PGA of America prez apologizes to Rory, Euros

PGA of America president Don Rea Jr., who initially compared vitriolic comments astatine the Ryder Cup with what could beryllium heard astatine a younker shot game, yet apologized Thursday successful an email to the 30,000-plus play professionals helium was elected to serve.

Europe built a grounds pb aft 2 days and held connected for a 15-13 triumph -- its six successful the past 8 Ryder Cups -- but the lawsuit was marred by a assemblage that made it idiosyncratic and profane.

"Let maine statesman with what we indispensable own. While the contention was spirited -- particularly with the U.S. team's rally connected Sunday day -- immoderate instrumentality behaviour intelligibly crossed the line," said Rea's missive to PGA of America members, which was obtained by The Associated Press. "It was disrespectful, inappropriate, and not typical of who we are arsenic the PGA of America oregon arsenic PGA of America play professionals. We condemn that behaviour unequivocally.

"What makes our athletics large is that we ain our bogeys. We surely ain this one. Our CEO Derek Sprague has apologized connected our behalf to Erica and Rory McIlroy and to everyone with Ryder Cup Europe. I would besides similar to personally apologize to them and each of you for not representing our relation successful the champion airy with immoderate of my comments successful the media during the event.

"While it wasn't my intention, immoderate of my comments were seen successful a antagonistic airy which reflects poorly connected not lone myself but besides connected the PGA of America and for that I genuinely apologize."

He ended the email, "God Bless and arsenic ever Go U.S.A!"

The PGA of America has been reeling from its deficiency of effect to behaviour astatine Bethpage Black, which began arsenic aboriginal arsenic Friday greeting erstwhile a tiny conception of fans chanted, "F--- you, Rory," upon seeing Rory McIlroy's representation connected a video surface from the signifier range.

It lone got worse, with vulgar connection directed astatine European players, video of a brew being slapped retired of someone's manus toward McIlroy's wife, and a comedian hired to pb cheers connected the archetypal tee getting progressive successful the expletive-laden chant toward McIlroy.

"You've got 50,000 radical present that are truly excited, and heck, you could spell to a younker shot crippled and get immoderate radical who accidental the incorrect things," Rea said successful a BBC interrogation Sunday morning.

He went connected to accidental the behaviour was distracting American players due to the fact that they had to walk vigor helping to power the crowd.

The maltreatment was specified that McIlroy began pushing back, telling 1 spectator to "shut the f--- up" during a foursomes lucifer Saturday morning. McIlroy and Shane Lowry each gave it backmost to the assemblage during their fourballs triumph that afternoon.

"I haven't heard immoderate of that. I'm definite it happened," Rea said during his BBC interrogation erstwhile asked straight astir the maltreatment hurled toward McIlroy. "It happens erstwhile we're implicit successful Rome connected the different side, and Rory understands. Things similar that are going to happen."

Said Matt Fitzpatrick of Rea's Rome reference: "It's beauteous violative to European fans the information that helium said that, really."

Lowry said the level of maltreatment directed astatine McIlroy's woman was "astonishing."

Derek Sprague, the CEO astatine the PGA of America, went connected Golf Channel connected Tuesday to accidental spectators crossed the enactment and that helium planned to apologize personally to McIlroy and his wife, Erica, who formerly worked astatine the PGA.

"Rory mightiness person been a people due to the fact that of however bully helium is, but the full European squad should not person been subjected to that," Sprague said connected Golf Channel. "I consciousness severely and I program connected apologizing to them."

Rea besides took vigor for an awkward trophy presumption Sunday successful which helium mentioned Europe had retained the cup, alternatively of winning it.

"I'm personally taking immoderate disapproval close present and that comes with the relation and conscionable similar erstwhile I was an umpire I expect it," Rea posted connected his Linkedin leafage Tuesday. "However to the students and PGA members that travel me, cognize this, I americium not bothered."

The PGA of America announced successful 2013 that it would bring the Ryder Cup to Bethpage Black, the proud, nationalist play people connected Long Island that had a estimation for its earthy comments directed astatine players.

Ted Bishop, who was the PGA president astatine the time, was forced retired arsenic president successful 2014 for a societal media station erstwhile helium angrily referred to Ian Poulter arsenic a "lil girl."

The Associated Press contr...