Don Rea has been removed as president of the PGA of America after months of scrutiny tied to the chaotic Ryder Cup. The governing body said the decision “followed a series of issues over time that, taken together, were determined to be detrimental to the Association,” and Nathan Charnes will serve as acting president until November.
The move closes a turbulent stretch for Rea, whose conduct during last year’s Ryder Cup drew criticism from players, fans, and golf observers. His remarks, a widely circulated karaoke video, and a trophy-ceremony slip all added to pressure on the PGA of America as it tried to move past one of the event’s most contentious weeks.
What triggered the backlash
Rea came under fire after comments he made to the BBC on the Sunday of the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black on Long Island. The day before, spectators had behaved in an unruly way toward the European team, and Rea was asked about the crowd atmosphere.
He responded by saying, “Well, you got 50,000 people here that are really excited, and, heck, you can go to a youth soccer game and get some people who say the wrong things.” He also said that booing can sometimes make players “play better,” while American players dealing with the crowd can become distracted.
When asked specifically about comments directed at Rory McIlroy, Rea said, “I haven’t heard some of that,” and added that similar behavior can happen when the Ryder Cup is played in Europe. He later called McIlroy’s press conference “amazingly” handled and said, “golf is the engine of good.”
A day later, Rea sent a letter to PGA of America members condemning the fan behavior and apologizing for his remarks. “While it wasn’t my intention,” he wrote, “some of my comments were seen in a negative light which reflects poorly on not only myself but also on the PGA of America and for that I truly apologize.”
Other moments that fueled criticism
The BBC interview was not the only episode that put Rea under pressure. On the Saturday night of the event, after a difficult afternoon on the course, he was recorded singing “Lose Yourself” by Eminem.
Video of the performance later circulated on the golf website The Fried Egg, adding another layer of scrutiny to his role as the PGA of America’s public face during one of golf’s biggest events. The clip became part of the broader criticism of how the organization handled the atmosphere around the competition.
Rea also drew notice during the trophy ceremony after Europe won 15-13. Instead of saying the Europeans had won the cup, he said they had retained it, a phrasing that stood out after the result and was widely viewed as another misstep.
Shift inside the PGA of America
The PGA of America later moved Rea away from his leadership role as attention around the Ryder Cup continued to linger. In February, Golfweek’s Adam Schupak reported that Rea had been reassigned to handle “member-first priorities,” signaling that his position had already changed before the formal announcement.
He was also not publicly seen at last week’s PGA Championship, another PGA of America event. When asked at a press conference why Rea was absent, PGA of America CEO Terry Clark said Rea had been focused on “how we think about our membership.”
The latest decision installs Charnes in the acting president role through November, when Rea’s two-year term was set to end. The PGA of America has not only removed a controversial figure from its top elected post, but also tried to draw a line under a Ryder Cup that left lasting questions about leadership, fan conduct, and the organization’s public image.
