Jacksonville, Florida – Professional golfer Patrick Reed has been ordered to pay attorney fees and costs to the defendants despite his $750 million defamation lawsuit against multiple networks and media members being dismissed twice. Reed filed the lawsuit in 2022 against Golfweek.com, columnist Emon Lynch, Associated Press national golf writer Doug Ferguson, Golf Channel commentators Brandel Chamblee and Damon Hack, and Fox Sports golf reporter Shane Ryan. The lawsuit claimed that the parties had conspired with the PGA Tour and commissioner Jay Monahan to defame Reed for joining LIV Golf.
The lawsuit was dismissed twice, with the most recent dismissal occurring in September. U.S. Middle District Court Judge Timothy Corrigan stated that Reed did not meet the required pleading of actual malice to hold the press liable for defamation. The court also noted that many of the statements made were not directly about Reed, but about LIV Golf as a whole or were matters of opinion or hyperbole.
Reed’s representatives have claimed that he has suffered financial losses due to the alleged defamation, including the loss of multiple multi-million dollar sponsorship deals. However, under Florida law and the First Amendment, Reed’s defamation claims were deemed not actionable and the cases were dismissed.
Patrick Reed officially joined LIV Golf in June 2022, following his success in winning nine PGA tournaments, including the 2018 Masters. He was also a member of the 2014, 2016, and 2018 Ryder Cup teams, as well as the 2015, 2017, and 2019 Presidents Cup Winners.
In conclusion, despite his defamation lawsuit being dismissed twice, Patrick Reed has been ordered to pay attorney fees and costs to the defendants. The court determined that Reed’s claims did not meet the required standard for defamation and had failed to show actual malice on the part of the press.