Patrick Reed was understandably keen on Wednesday to move on from last weekend’s rules controversy, as he switches focus to securing back-to-back victories by winning the Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers.
The American, 30, triumphed at Torrey Pines on Sunday to claim the Farmers Insurance Open and move back inside the world’s top 10. He shot a closing 68 to win by five shots.
However, Reed's success was overshadowed by a ruling drama during Saturday's third round, when he took a free drop on the 10th hole from what he said was an embedded lie. Reed moved the ball before calling an official.
The official did deem it to have been embedded, allowing Reed a drop, although television replays showed the ball bounced once before settling into the rough. A volunteer had told Reed as he approached his ball that she “didn’t see” that take place.
It was not the first time Reed has been involved in a rules controversy – he was penalised for apparently improving his lie in a bunker at the 2019 Hero World Challenge – with world No 4 Xander Schauffele saying of Saturday’s incident that “the talk amongst the boys isn’t great, I guess”. Reed has maintained he did nothing wrong.
Asked on Wednesday at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club if he would do anything differently should the scenario arise again, the world No 10 said simply: “It's hard to say how I would change any situation considering I did it basically straight by the rule book.
“I feel like it was handled the best way that we could, and it was obviously handled the correct way when talking with the rules officials and seeing it through the rules officials.
“Really, that was last week, and the biggest thing for us is to focus on this week and focus on this golf tournament and go out and try to get another ‘W’.”
Reed said he had spoken to Schauffele by text message earlier this week, after the latter had reached out to him, and that the two were “all good”.
“I'm just going to leave it between me and him,” Reed said. “It’s one of those things that all you can do is try to do the right thing and from that point, move on.
“I've moved on from last week and really my biggest thing, what I'm here for, is trying to focus on this week and having a chance late Sunday to hopefully win another one, and try to hopefully win my first European Tour event over here.”
Reed, who finished second in the 2018 Race to Dubai and third last year, has become something of a regular on the European Tour despite playing predominantly on his home circuit in the United States. He contested the first two editions of the Saudi International, finishing 56th in 2019 but missing the cut last year.
“It's awesome to come over here," he said. "The support that this event has and the support that Saudi has given the players, as well as just the Tour, is amazing.
"For us, coming over and playing and having a golf course that's continuously gotten better and better each year, and the hospitality is amazing. It's one of these places you really look forward to coming to and playing.
“For me, it's always fun coming over and playing on The European Tour. Get away from my comfort zone at home. It's almost making me feel comfortable coming over and play on the European Tour. It's one of these things that I call my second home, and to be able to come over and play and support both tours for me means a lot.”
Reed said the fallout from Saturday did not make him any more motivated to perform well this week, saying: “The biggest thing is to go out and play the best golf I can. I've always been really good at blocking out noise and focusing on what's at hand.
“I think that's what's amazing about golfers in this day and age, as well as all the greats of the game, is that to be really good at golf, you have to really be mentally strong.
“At this level, everyone can hit the ball well and everyone can make putts and everyone can chip. It's usually the guy who wins week-in, week-out, mentally is the strongest that week as well as is able to overcome all the ups and downs of golf."
The specs
Engine: 1.4-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 180hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 250Nm at 3,00rpm
Transmission: 5-speed sequential auto
Price: From Dh139,995
On sale: now
The specs
Engine: 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 380hp at 5,800rpm
Torque: 530Nm at 1,300-4,500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Price: From Dh299,000 ($81,415)
On sale: Now
If you go
Flying
Despite the extreme distance, flying to Fairbanks is relatively simple, requiring just one transfer in Seattle, which can be reached directly from Dubai with Emirates for Dh6,800 return.
Touring
Gondwana Ecotours’ seven-day Polar Bear Adventure starts in Fairbanks in central Alaska before visiting Kaktovik and Utqiarvik on the North Slope. Polar bear viewing is highly likely in Kaktovik, with up to five two-hour boat tours included. Prices start from Dh11,500 per person, with all local flights, meals and accommodation included; gondwanaecotours.com
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Retirement funds heavily invested in equities at a risky time
Pension funds in growing economies in Asia, Latin America and the Middle East have a sharply higher percentage of assets parked in stocks, just at a time when trade tensions threaten to derail markets.
Retirement money managers in 14 geographies now allocate 40 per cent of their assets to equities, an 8 percentage-point climb over the past five years, according to a Mercer survey released last week that canvassed government, corporate and mandatory pension funds with almost $5 trillion in assets under management. That compares with about 25 per cent for pension funds in Europe.
The escalating trade spat between the US and China has heightened fears that stocks are ripe for a downturn. With tensions mounting and outcomes driven more by politics than economics, the S&P 500 Index will be on course for a “full-scale bear market” without Federal Reserve interest-rate cuts, Citigroup’s global macro strategy team said earlier this week.
The increased allocation to equities by growth-market pension funds has come at the expense of fixed-income investments, which declined 11 percentage points over the five years, according to the survey.
Hong Kong funds have the highest exposure to equities at 66 per cent, although that’s been relatively stable over the period. Japan’s equity allocation jumped 13 percentage points while South Korea’s increased 8 percentage points.
The money managers are also directing a higher portion of their funds to assets outside of their home countries. On average, foreign stocks now account for 49 per cent of respondents’ equity investments, 4 percentage points higher than five years ago, while foreign fixed-income exposure climbed 7 percentage points to 23 per cent. Funds in Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and Taiwan are among those seeking greater diversification in stocks and fixed income.
• Bloomberg
Women’s World T20, Asia Qualifier
UAE results
Beat China by 16 runs
Lost to Thailand by 10 wickets
Beat Nepal by five runs
Beat Hong Kong by eight wickets
Beat Malaysia by 34 runs
Standings (P, W, l, NR, points)
1. Thailand 5 4 0 1 9
2. UAE 5 4 1 0 8
3. Nepal 5 2 1 2 6
4. Hong Kong 5 2 2 1 5
5. Malaysia 5 1 4 0 2
6. China 5 0 5 0 0
Final
Thailand v UAE, Monday, 7am
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Infobox
Western Region Asia Cup Qualifier, Al Amerat, Oman
The two finalists advance to the next stage of qualifying, in Malaysia in August
Results
UAE beat Iran by 10 wickets
Kuwait beat Saudi Arabia by eight wickets
Oman beat Bahrain by nine wickets
Qatar beat Maldives by 106 runs
Monday fixtures
UAE v Kuwait, Iran v Saudi Arabia, Oman v Qatar, Maldives v Bahrain
JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH
Directed by: Shaka King
Starring: Daniel Kaluuya, Lakeith Stanfield, Jesse Plemons
Four stars
Remaining Fixtures
Wednesday: West Indies v Scotland
Thursday: UAE v Zimbabwe
Friday: Afghanistan v Ireland
Sunday: Final
if you go
The flights
Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes.
When to visit
March-May and September-November
Visas
Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
