Remarkable footage has emerged of Don Rea, the president of the PGA of America, singing ‘Lose Yourself’ by Eminem on the day the Ryder Cup descended into chaos.
This year’s clash between Europe and the United States turned sour on day two after Team Europe – and Rory McIlroy in particular – were subjected to horrendous abuse from US fans.
Rea soon went viral after a car crash interview in which he played down the vicious heckling, which saw McIlroy called a ‘f*****’ and his wife, Erica Stoll, hit by a drink and branded a ‘w****.’
PGA of America chief executive Derek Sprague eventually apologized to McIlroy and Stoll after it emerged that Team Europe was ready to walk off the course over the abuse.
It was later revealed by The Times that Rea opted to sing karaoke – rather than address concerns about the heckling – just hours after the USA fell 11.5-4.5 down on a toxic second day at Bethpage Black.
Now a clip of his rap has been leaked on social media by @TheShotgunStart. In the nine-second video, filmed at a hotel for players’ families and guests, Rea is seen performing ‘Lose Yourself’ while some members of the crowd clap and holler.
Rory McIlroy and his wife Erica Stoll were taunted during the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black
McIlroy struggled to contain his emotions as he opened up on all he had endured in New York
The following morning, the president of the PGA of America sensationally claimed McIlroy ‘understands’ the vile abuse directed at him and his family.
‘Things like that are going to happen,’ Rea said before appearing to blame Team USA’s early struggles on their fans.
Rea, speaking ahead of the Sunday singles, suggested Europe’s players were treated no worse than their American counterparts when they travelled to Marco Simone in 2023.
In a remarkable interview with the BBC, he said: ‘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.’
When pressed on the particularly personal attacks on McIlroy, he added: ‘I haven’t heard some of that – I’m sure it’s happened.
‘It happened when we were in Rome on the other side and Rory understands… things like that are going to happen and I don’t know what was said. But all I know is golf the engine of good.’
Team USA struggled badly over the first two days in New York, with home players including Justin Thomas forced to try and quieten the crowds.
Rea suggested that was affecting their performance, claiming: ‘When our American players have to control the crowds, that distracts them from playing.
He added: ‘We tell the fans: booing somebody doesn’t make them play worse. Typically it makes them play better.’
Sprague, overseeing his first Ryder Cup as PGA of America chief executive, told The Athletic: ‘I sent a long email to share with Rory and Erica and just told him that we will do better in the future.
Police dogs and state troopers had to be called in after Rory McIlroy was subject to vile abuse
‘I’m the CEO now. I don’t condone this type of behavior. This is not good for the game of golf. It’s not good for the Ryder Cup. It’s not good for any of the professional athletes, and we will do better.’
In the build-up to the match, Team USA star Collin Morikawa called on fans to ‘create absolute chaos.’
The two-time major winner has now conceded the raucous New York crowd went too far. ‘There’s a line that needs to be drawn. We have to learn how to find that division of what’s appropriate and what’s not,’ he said.
‘Ryder Cups are meant to have a lot of energy and me saying the word “chaos”, I didn’t mean for them to be rude. That’s not on me, I believe, to take credit for people being rude.’
