New York crowds treated us worse than what Reed is copping: Leishman

Marc Leishman insisted the Australian crowd's taunting of American bad boy Patrick Reed was nothing in comparison to New York's treatment of International players after another tension-filled day at Royal Melbourne.

Reed finally took the bait and mimicked a digging motion after holing a crucial putt during foursomes play on Friday following almost three hours of continuous baiting from International fans.

The former US Masters champion has been the United States villain this week after being docked two shots for shifting sand to improve his lie in a bunker at playing-captain Tiger Woods' own tournament in the Bahamas.

Reed strenuously denied he cheated and physcially bumped into his most vocal critic, Cameron Smith, as he walked past the International player between holes on Thursday.

Smith tried to draw a line under the issue after playing his first Presidents Cup match on Friday as the pro-Leishman crowd revelled in his three and two win with Abraham Ancer over Reed and Webb Simpson.

Asked about the crowd reaction to Reed, Leishman said: "We had it two years ago in New York and it was worse than this. It was bad in New York City, but you expect it to be bad.

We had it two years ago in New York and it was worse than this.

Marc Leishman

"I mean, it's a home game. You want there to be an advantage for the home team – and they certainly have it in New York. And it looks like we've got it so far this week. I think the crowds have been very good ... a football crowd, which is what we needed."

Reed was subject to the increasingly lame shovel and bunker jibes for the second straight day and finally responded as his Friday match slipped away.

The International side leads 6.5 to 3.5 heading into Saturday morning's fourball session. It will be followed by five foursomes matches later in the afternoon.

Asked about his contact with Reed a day earlier, Smith said: "I'm not really sure what it was about, to be honest. I mean, I haven't said anything wrong. I just don't want to really talk about it any more. I think it's all said and done.

"I've said my bit. He's said his bit. Let's just get on with our job and try and play the Presidents Cup."

Reed said the week had turned "personal" for him after the comments from Smith – and to a lesser extent Leishman – during last week's Australian Open in which they criticised his actions at the Hero World Challenge.

Woods has kept the faith with the world No.12 and Simpson, pitting the pair against Hideki Matsuyama and CT Pan in Saturday's fourball session despite the duo not yet registering a point this week.

Presidents Cup veteran Adam Scott, who is yet to taste success over the United States in eight previous attempts, expects even more from the Royal Melbourne galleries over the weekend.

 

Adam Scott pumps up the crowd after he and Louis Oosthuizen defeated Dustin Johnson and Matt Kuchar.Credit: Getty

"I'm happy to hole a few putts out there and get everyone fired up," Scott said. "I think we've got to give them something to cheer for. We can't expect them to cheer if we're not doing our job. They can get as loud as they would like as far as I'm concerned."