'He’s protected by the Tour': Schauffele speaks out on Reed rules controversy

• 2018 Masters champion picked up ball before official arrived
• Reed, penalized in 2019 over incident, says he did right thing'
• Rory McIlroy involved in similar incident on Saturday
• Both players cleared of any wrongdoing by PGA Tour

Xander Schauffele, one of the most understated players in golf, issued stinging analysis after Patrick Reed's victory at the Farmers Insurance Open. Schauffele claimed Reed was protected by" the PGA Tour in response to discussion around a rules drama. Reed shot a closing round of 68 to win by five at Torrey Pines but the narrative proved a long way from birdies and bogeys.

Reed's latest success was overshadowed by incredible noise attached to a free drop taken from a supposedly embedded lie in rough and into more favourable domain during the third round, after television pictures showed the former Masters champion's ball bounced upon landing. The protocols and everything I went through was the right thing," said Reed during his victory press conference. I did everything I was supposed to do and that was confirmed by the rules officials." A volunteer had told Reed she didn't see" his ball bouncing.