Golf chief removed by PGA of America following abuse suffered by Rory McIlroy and other stars
Golf chief Don Rea has been removed by the PGA of America following abuse suffered by Rory McIlroy and other golfing stars at the 2025 Ryder Cup.
The Board of Directors voted to suspend Rea for the duration of his term, which was due to conclude in November.
Nathan Charnes, who served as vice president, has stepped up to fill the vacancy as interim acting president, according to GolfWeek.
Rea's removal comes months after his handling of spectator misconduct at the 2025 Ryder Cup drew widespread criticism.
The former president, who took office in 2024, had largely disappeared from public view following the fallout from last September's contest between Europe and the United States at Bethpage Black.
The second day of competition at Bethpage Black saw the tournament descend into ugliness as American supporters directed vicious abuse towards Luke Donald's European squad.
McIlroy bore the brunt of the hostility, with the world number two subjected to deeply personal taunts about his private life and called explicit names during the Saturday foursomes and fourballs.
The Masters champion's wife, Erica Stoll, was struck by a thrown drink as the atmosphere at the New York venue turned hostile.
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The toxic scenes prompted American players, including Justin Thomas, to attempt to calm their own supporters during play.
Rea provoked fury by declining to condemn the behaviour of American spectators, instead dismissing the incidents as inevitable.
"Things like that are going to happen," he stated, while also suggesting the hostile crowds were hampering Team USA's performance.
He told the BBC: "Well you have 50,000 people there that are really excited and - heck - you can go to a youth soccer game and get some people who say the wrong things.
"Rory understands... things like that are going to happen and I don't know what was said. But all I know is golf is the engine of good."
Rea's conduct during the crisis drew further scrutiny when footage surfaced of him performing karaoke as the tournament spiralled into disarray.
The Times reported the president chose to sing Eminem's "Lose Yourself" rather than address the heckling.
The situation had escalated to the point that Donald's squad reportedly considered abandoning the course entirely in protest at their treatment.
PGA of America chief executive Derek Sprague ultimately issued an apology to McIlroy and Stoll once the extent of the abuse became clear.
Despite the turmoil, Europe held on to secure a narrow victory in the Sunday singles.
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