Patrick Reed’s Defamation Lawsuit Dismissed by Federal Judge

Patrick Reed’s defamation lawsuit against Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee and others was dismissed on Friday by a federal judge who described the former Masters champ’s complaint as “shotgun pleading” that failed to support its many allegations. 

But Reed was given a mulligan by Timothy J. Corrigan, the Chief U.S. District Court Judge for the Middle District of Florida. Corrigan set a Dec. 16 deadline for Reed to amend the lawsuit. 

“In drafting the amended complaint, Reed is instructed to reevaluate his alleged claims and bring only those claims that are meritorious and supported by law,” Corrigan wrote.

Reed originally sued Chamblee and Golf Channel in a Texas federal court in August. The lawsuit, where Reed sought more than $750 million in damages, alleged Chamblee’s “personal attacks have in turn harmed his performance at tournaments and events.”

Reed left the PGA Tour to join LIV Golf earlier this year. 

Reed’s first lawsuit was dismissed by his attorney, Larry Klayman, and was refiled in a Florida federal court in September. The second lawsuit added Golf Channel hosts Damon Hack, Shane Bacon, and Eamon Lynch, along with Golfweek and its parent company, Gannett, as defendants.

Corrigan noted in Friday’s order that Golfweek and Gannett “believe Reed has sued the incorrect defendants.”