Don Rea Jr. Apologizes for Ryder Cup Comments
The president of the PGA of America, Don Rea Jr., publicly apologized after the controversy generated by his comments on the behavior of the fans at the Ryder Cup. His statements, which initially compared the insults heard at the event to those of a youth soccer game, drew criticism. The European team took the victory with a score of 15-13, marking their sixth triumph in the last eight editions of the Ryder Cup. However, the event was marred by the inappropriate and offensive behavior of some spectators.Rea also expressed his regret for his comments in the media, acknowledging that they did not reflect the desired image of the association. In addition, CEO Derek Sprague apologized on behalf of the organization to Rory McIlroy and his wife, as well as to Ryder Cup Europe. The behavior of the fans, which included offensive chants directed at McIlroy and other European players, was severely criticized. Insults and vulgar language were reported, even towards McIlroy’s wife, which led to a response from the players. In an interview, Rea downplayed the seriousness of the situation, which generated even more controversy. Matt Fitzpatrick called his comments “quite offensive” to European fans. Sprague, for his part, acknowledged that the spectators had crossed the line and announced that he would personally apologize to McIlroy and his wife. The PGA of America has been criticized for its initial lack of response to the fans’ behavior. Rea also faced criticism for his trophy presentation on Sunday, where he mentioned that Europe had retained the cup instead of winning it. Through his Linkedin page, Rea expressed that he was not worried about the criticism. In 2013, the PGA of America announced that the Ryder Cup would be held at Bethpage Black, a public golf course on Long Island with a reputation for direct comments towards players. Ted Bishop, then president of the PGA, was forced to leave his position in 2014 after a social media post where he referred to Ian Poulter in an offensive manner.“We must take responsibility. While the competition was intense, especially with the reaction of the American team on Sunday afternoon, some fan behavior clearly crossed the line,” Rea wrote in a letter to PGA of America members. “It was disrespectful, inappropriate, and does not represent the PGA of America or its professionals. We unequivocally condemn that behavior.”
Don Rea Jr.
