The president of the PGA of America, who had initially dismissed abuse directed at Europe’s players during this year’s Ryder Cup as no worse than at “a youth soccer game”, has issued an apology.
“Let me begin with what we must own. While the competition was spirited – especially with the US team’s rally on Sunday afternoon – some fan behaviour clearly crossed the line,” Don Rea Jr wrote in an email to PGA of America members.
“It was disrespectful, inappropriate, and not representative of who we are as the PGA of America or as PGA of America golf professionals. We condemn that behaviour unequivocally.”
During last week’s tournament, Europe’s players were subjected to vitriolic abuse. An MC at the event resigned after she led chants of “Fuck you, Rory” aimed at Rory McIlroy, the crowd hurled homophobic slurs at golfers, and players’ wives were insulted. McIlroy said his wife, Erica, was hit by a beer that was thrown during Saturday afternoon’s play. Europe won the Ryder Cup on Sunday after completing a 15-13 victory.
However, in a BBC interview on Sunday morning, Rea seemed to minimise the abuse. “You’ve got 50,000 people here that are really excited, and heck, you could go to a youth soccer game and get some people who say the wrong things,” he said. He went on to say the behaviour was distracting American players because they had to spend energy helping to control the crowd.
The abuse was such that McIlroy began pushing back, telling one spectator to “shut the fuck up” during a foursomes match on Saturday morning.
Rea also said when asked about the abuse hurled toward McIlroy: “I haven’t heard some of that. I’m sure it happened. It happens when we’re over in Rome on the other side, and Rory understands. Things like that are going to happen.”
Europe’s Matt Fitzpatrick said about the Rome reference: “It’s pretty offensive to European fans the fact that he said that, really.” Shane Lowry said the level of abuse directed at McIlroy’s wife was “astonishing”.
Derek Sprague, the chief executive at the PGA of America, said on Tuesday that spectators crossed the line and that he planned to apologise personally to Rory McIlroy and Erica McIlroy, who formerly worked at the PGA.
“Rory might have been a target because of how good he is, but the entire European team should not have been subjected to that,” Sprague said on the Golf Channel. “I feel badly and I plan on apologising to them.”
Rea also was criticised for an awkward trophy presentation in which he mentioned Europe had retained the cup, instead of winning it.
On Tuesday, on his LinkedIn page, Rea wrote: “I’m personally taking some criticism right now and that comes with the role and just like when I was an umpire I expect it. However to the students and PGA members that follow me, know this, I am not bothered.”
In Thursday’s letter, Rea was more contrite. “What makes our sport great is that we own our bogeys. We certainly own this one,” Rea wrote. “Our CEO Derek Sprague has apologised on our behalf to Erica and Rory McIlroy and to everyone with Ryder Cup Europe.
“While it wasn’t my intention, some of my comments were seen in a negative light which reflects poorly on not only myself but also on the PGA of America and for that I truly apologise.”
He ended the email, “God Bless and as always Go USA!”
The PGA of America announced in 2013 it would bring the Ryder Cup to Bethpage Black, a public golf course on Long Island that had a reputation for fans targeting players with comments. Ted Bishop was the PGA president and Pete Bevacqua was the chief executive at the time of the announcement.
Bishop was forced out as president in 2014, with a month left on his two-year term, for a social media post when he angrily referred to Ian Poulter as a “lil girl”.
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