Don Rea Jr., who was criticized for his handling of abusive language directed at European players during last year’s Ryder Cup, will resign as president of the PGA of America with immediate effect.
Tuesday’s news came shortly after the PGA of America’s Board of Governors suspended Rea for the remainder of his two-year term, which ends in November. PGA of America Vice President Nathan Charnes has been appointed acting president.
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Related: PGA of America president belatedly admits US Ryder Cup fans ‘crossed the line’ with abuse
Ray was criticized for not apologizing during the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in September last year, when a raucous New York crowd hurled personal insults at Rory McIlroy and his family. The event’s host resigned after leading a “fuck you, Rory” chant towards McIlroy. Homophobic slurs were shouted at the golfer. The players’ wives were insulted. McIlroy said his wife Erica was hit by a beer thrown during the game. At one point, he fired back during a foursomes match by telling the audience to “shut up.”
In an interview Sunday morning after the Cup game, Rea dismissed the abuse as no worse than what was said at a “boys soccer game” and said it was a distraction for the American players, who needed to expend energy controlling the crowd.
“There are 50,000 people here who are really excited and if you go to a youth football match, some people might say the wrong thing,” he told the BBC.
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A week later, Rea issued an email apology to PGA of America members, saying the actions of some fans “clearly crossed the line” and were “disrespectful, inappropriate and not representative of the organization.”
Rhea was also caught on video performing a karaoke version of Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” as the U.S. lost by seven points to Europe. After the game, during the trophy presentation ceremony, he said that Europe had not won outright, but had “maintained” the championship, causing confusion.
Mr. Rea had served as president of the PGA of America since November 2024. In 2014, the association removed Ted Bishop from his post as president after he called British golfer Ian Poulter a “boring woman” in a tweet.
