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Nine-time PGA Tour winner Patrick Reed claims he faced an onslaught of criticism while playing on the tour that led to a “hostile work environment,” spearheaded by longtime commentator Brandel Chamblee and the Golf Channel, according to a $750 million defamation lawsuit filed earlier this week.
The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in the Southern District of Texas, set out Reed’s complaint against Chamblee and the Golf Channel, accusing both parties of acting “jointly with and as agents on behalf” of the PGA Tour, the DP World Tour and to act their commissioners, to defame Reed, and with a recent focus on his decision to play at the LIV Golf Circuit.
Patrick Reed of 4 Aces GC walks the tenth green during day three of the LIV Golf Invitational – Bedminster at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster on July 31, 2022 in Bedminster, New Jersey. (Jared C. Tilton/LIV via Getty Images)
“It is well known on tour that more than any other golfer, Mr. Reed was abused and endured by fans or bystanders who were permitted to shout profanity only to be glamorized for it by NBC’s golf channel because it was the accused.” Chamblee and Golf Channel get ‘clicks’, viewership, ratings and increased revenue. It doesn’t matter to the defendants how much they destroy someone’s name and life as long as they make more dollars and more profits,” the lawsuit reads.
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Reed’s lawsuit includes examples of several of the taunts, including personal attacks on his family and allegations of cheating, which he allegedly faced from fans who claimed it “damaged his performance at tournaments and events.”
“You bloody bastard!” “Beat the cheater’s a–“, “You cheat in college and on tour and you’re a piece of S—!” and “You piece of s—” were just some of the insults listed in the document.
“These are just a sample of what the defendants maliciously and willfully caused and promoted with actual malice. These personal attacks often occur while Mr. Reed is actively preparing for his golf swing, or during the golf swing let alone after it, while walking up to his next golf swing, as well as lining up and putting on the green, putting putts being a high priority of focus,” the lawsuit states.
Patrick Reed of 4 Aces GC plays his shot from the 15th tee during day one of the LIV Golf Invitational – Bedminster at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster on July 29, 2022 in Bedminster, New Jersey. (Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)
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The main focus of the lawsuit is that Chamblee and the Golf Channel acted as “agents” for the PGA Tour and DP World Tour to defame and slander those associated with LIV Golf “to attempt to destroy their monopolistic… maintain a standing in professional golf. ”
The lawsuit cites several comments by Chamblee commenting on Reed’s and others’ involvement in the Saudi-backed circle and its relationship to “blood money,” “sports laundry,” and alignment “with a tyrannical murderous leader.”
The ‘4 Aces’ team celebrates with champagne after winning the team competition during a post-finals ceremony of the Bedminster Invitational LIV golf tournament in Bedminster, NJ, Sunday July 31, 2022. From left to right, Pat Perez, Talor Gooch , Patrick Reed and Dustin Johnson. (AP Photo/Seth Little)
However, the defamation case claims these are false and harmful statements that compare the situation to that of LeBron James and the NBA over their ties to the Chinese government.
“That would be tantamount to saying that LeBron James has allied himself with a ‘tyrannical, murderous leader’ because he plays in the National Basketball Association (‘NBA’), which has complicated ties to the People’s Republic of China, whose government is accused of a current one and ongoing genocide against the Muslim Uyghurs.”
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The lawsuit follows a decision by a federal judge in California who denied a restraining order from three former PGA Tour players who last week filed for a restraining order to compete in the FedEx Cup playoffs. The Tour argued that lifting golfers’ suspensions and allowing them to play “would change the status quo for the PGA Tour and give them a fabulous platform” to promote the LIV Tour while attending a PGA event .
It stemmed from an antitrust lawsuit filed by Phil Mickelson and nine other LIV golfers earlier this month, alleging the PGA Tour’s indefinite suspensions were designed to hurt their careers.
Paulina Dedaj is a digital reporter for Fox News and Fox Business. Follow Paulina Dedaj on Twitter at @PaulinaDedaj. If you have a tip, you can email Paulina at [email protected]