Don Rea has been removed as the president of the PGA of America months on from the vile fan abuse that marred the 2025 Ryder Cup.
The organization announced the decision on Friday evening, confirming that Rea had been suspended by its Board of Directors for the remainder of his term, which was scheduled to run until November of this year.
In his place, Vice President Nathan Charnes has been promoted to serve as interim Acting President, according to GolfWeek.
Rea was elected as PGA President in 2024. However, he has been kept out of the spotlight in recent months after his term was rocked by controversy in the aftermath of last year’s Ryder Cup.
Last September’s battle between Europe and the United States at Bethpage turned sour on day two after Team Europe – and Rory McIlroy in particular – were subjected to horrendous abuse from US fans.
Rea sparked backlash when he controversially failed to condemn the vile abuse from the American spectators.
Don Rea has been removed as PGA of America president months on from the Ryder Cup
Rea sparked backlash when he failed to condone the vile abuse hurled at Europe’s stars
‘Things like that are going to happen,’ said Rea, who also appeared to blame Team USA’s early struggles on their fans in a car crash interview ahead of the Sunday Singles, which resulted in a narrow victory for the Europeans.
He also sensationally claimed that Masters champion McIlroy ‘understands’ the vile heckling directed at him and his family during the Ryder Cup.
Luke Donald’s players were subjected to a torrent of abuse from the galleries, with McIlroy a particular target of US fans.
During the Saturday foursomes and fourballs, the world No 2 was taunted about his private life and called a ‘f*****’. His wife Erica Stoll , meanwhile, was hit by a drink as the atmosphere turned nasty at Bethpage Black.
But Rea 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.’
Rory McIlroy and his wife Erica Stoll were taunted during the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black
Justin Thomas urges the crowd to be quiet during his match against McIlroy and Shane Lowry
Team USA struggled badly over the first two days at Bethpage Black, 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.
‘So our message today, to everybody out here, is: cheer on the Americans like never before because that will always get them to play better. Get them out of crowd control and let them perform.’
He added: ‘We tell the fans: booing somebody doesn’t make them play worse. Typically it makes them play better.’
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.
Rea further went viral when remarkable footage emerged of him singing ‘Lose Yourself’ by Eminem on the day the Ryder Cup descended into chaos.
The Times revealed 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.
