Don Rea, embroiled in controversy following last year’s Ryder Cup events, has been replaced as president of the PGA of America.
In a statement on Friday afternoon, the governing body said the move “followed a series of problems over time, which, when combined, were determined to harm the Association.” The PGA said Nathan Charnes will be removed from the position of vice president and placed in the position of president until November, when Rea’s two-year term will expire.
Rea held the heat last September in the Ryder Cup, which was run by the PGA of America, over a series of actions, including:
– His comments on the BBC on the Sunday of the event. The previous day, the spectators at Bethpage Black on Long Island had turned on the European team uncontrollably, and Rea, after being asked about that, began his answer this way:
“Well, you have 50,000 people who are really happy, and, hey, you can go to a youth football game and get people saying the wrong thing. We tell the fans that yelling at someone doesn’t make them play worse. It usually makes them play better. And if our American players have to control the crowd, that distracts them from playing.”
Rea was then asked about fans’ comments to Rory McIlroy, who was playing for Europe.
“I haven’t heard any of that,” he said. “I’m sure it’s happened. You know, it happens when we’re in Rome on the other side. And Rory understands. I thought you handled the press conference yesterday wonderfully. But yes, things like that will happen. I don’t know what was said. But what I do know is that golf is an engine of beauty.”
A day later, Rea sent a letter to members of the PGA of America criticizing the behavior of fans, and apologized. “Although it was not my intention,” Rea wrote, “some of the things I said came across in a negative light not only on me but also on the PGA of America and for that I am truly sorry.” McIlroy also said in November that Rea had reached out to apologize.
– His karaoke performance on the Saturday night of the event. After a wild game that afternoon, Rea was recorded singing “Lose Yourself” by Eminem, and a video of it was discovered and shared by the golf website The Fried Egg.
– Commenting on Sunday during the award ceremony. After Europe won the event 15-13, Rea said the Europeans kept the trophy, instead of winning it outright.
In February, Golfweek’s Adam Schupak reported that Rea has been reassigned to handle “membership priorities.” At last week’s PGA Championship, another PGA of America event, Rea was not seen in public. At a press conference the day before the tournament, PGA of America CEO Terry Clark was asked about the governance of the PGA of America and why Rea was not at the press conference, saying that Rea was focused on “what we think about our membership.”
