PGA of America removes President Don Rea after Ryder Cup fan abuse

The PGA of America has removed President Don Rea from office, suspending him for the remainder of his term following a series of controversies stemming from fan behavior at the 2025 Ryder Cup. The organization’s Board of Directors announced the decision Friday, stating that the move came after “a series of issues over time that, taken together, were determined to be detrimental to the Association.” Rea’s term had been scheduled to run through November. Vice President Nathan Charnes has been appointed acting president, and Secretary Eric Eshleman has been elevated to vice president pending elections later this year.

The controversy that ultimately led to Rea’s removal erupted during the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in New York, where sections of the American crowd directed sustained verbal abuse at European players, particularly Rory McIlroy. Reports indicate that fans taunted McIlroy about his personal life, used vulgar language, and targeted his wife, Erica Stoll, with one spectator throwing a beverage in her direction. The hostile atmosphere prompted discussions within the European team about potentially walking off the course.

When asked by the BBC about the abuse on the...