PGA of America President Don Rae Jr. compared Vitrick comments at the Ryder Cup to those heard at youth soccer matches and apologized in an email to more than 30,000 golf professionals who were selected to serve on Thursday.
Europe built a record-breaking lead two days later, winning its sixth time in the last eight Ryder Cups, but the event was undermined by a gallery that made it personal and profanity.
“Let’s start with what we have to own. The competition was thriving, especially at the US team rally on Sunday afternoon, but some fans’ actions clearly crossed the line,” read Rea’s letter to PGA of America members obtained by the Associated Press. “It was disrespectful, inappropriate and not representing who we are as American PGAs or American golf professionals. We explicitly condemn the actions.
“What makes our sport so great is that we own bogeys. We certainly own this. Our CEO Derek Sprague apologized on our behalf to Erica and Rory McIlroy and everyone in Europe in the Ryder Cup.
“It wasn’t my intention, but some of my comments were seen in negative light.
He ended his email saying, “God’s blessing and as always, I’ll go to America!”
PGA of America is upset by the lack of response to the unruly behaviour that began with Beth Page Black on Friday morning when a small section of fans chanted “F — You, Rory” when they saw an image of McIlroy on a video screen from practice range.
A video of beer, a vulgar language directed at European players, was slapped from someone’s hand at McIlroy’s wife, and hired to be involved in a chant in which the comedian cheered and screamed at McIlroy on the first tee.
“There are 50,000 people here who are really excited, but you can go to a youth soccer game and get people who say the wrong thing,” Rea said in a BBC interview on Sunday morning.
He also said the action was to divert American players because he had to spend energy that would help control the crowd.
The abuse was so serious that McIlroy began to retreat, instructing one spectator to “close f—up” during the Foursome match on Saturday morning. McIlroy and Shane Lowry each returned to the gallery during a four-ball victory that afternoon.
“I’ve never heard of it, I’m sure it happened,” Rhea said in his BBC interview when asked about the abuse that was thrown at McIlroy. “It happens when we were in Rome on the other side, and Rory understands. That’s what will happen.”
Rare’s Rome Matt Fitzpatrick said, “For European fans, the fact that he said it is pretty offensive.”
Laurie said the level of abuse directed at McIlroy’s wife was “surprising.”
Sprague went to the Golf Channel on Tuesday and said the audience had planned to cross the line and personally apologize to McIlroy, who previously worked at the PGA, and his wife.
“Rolly may have been a target for how good he is, but the whole European team shouldn’t have been exposed to it,” Sprague said on the Golf Channel. “I feel bad and I’m going to apologize to them.”
Rhea also took the heat on Sunday for a nasty trophy presentation, saying Europe is holding the cup rather than winning the cup.
“I’ve been receiving some personal criticism right now. It comes with the role, and I’m hoping for it, like when I was a judge,” Rea posted on his LinkedIn page Tuesday. “But the students and PGA members who follow me know this, I don’t care.”
PGA of America announced in 2013 that it would bring the Ryder Cup to Beth Page Black. Beth Page Black is a proud public golf course on Long Island that has a reputation for raw comments directed at players.
Ted Bishop, then president of the PGA, was kicked out of his position in 2014 after a social media post that angeredly mentioned Ian Paulter as “Lil Girl.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
