Bethpage was chaotic, and the American spectators gathered on the New York course were to be blamed for it. As many experts mentioned, their treatment of the European pros was shocking, and their behavior embarrassing. Three months later, Team Europe captain Luke Donald has shared that he believes it’s the PGA of America who should be criticized for it.

Speaking to The Sunday Times, the Englishman said, “That was disappointing because anyone who was in Rome and New York knew it was completely different. Singing ‘Hats off to your bank account’ [as European fans did in Rome] is slightly different to ‘F*** your five-year-old’ or whatever it was, and this wasn’t just one or two guys, it was hundreds, maybe thousands.”

While the fans in Rome also tried to indulge in banter, they didn’t insult the pros personally. But the abuse Rory McIlroy & Co. faced at Bethpage was absolutely absurd. The crowd also attacked the Irishman’s wife, Erica Stoll, by throwing beer at her while she was walking by the ropes.

Despite the behavior, Don Rea, the PGA of America’s President, refused to acknowledge and apologize for it. Frustrated about it, Donald said, “As a leader, you have a responsibility. Nobody’s perfect. We all make mistakes and f*** up.”

“Just own up to it. Just say, ‘We should’ve done more. This isn’t acceptable, and we will do better next time.’ I would’ve loved to have heard that message rather than, ‘Well, it happens, and it happened over there.’ I don’t think that’s what leaders should do.”

The situation at Bethpage was already quite bad. The PGA of America authorities needed to take responsibility for the situation and take control of it. Instead, Don Rea stated that he didn’t think anyone crossed the line.

“I haven’t heard some of that, and I’m sure it has happened… Rory understands. I thought he handled the press conferences amazingly, and, yeah, things like that are going to happen,” Rea said, suggesting that the issue was exaggerated. He did face a lot of criticism for it from the fans as well.

Luke Donald’s statement might annoy Don Rea. But Donald himself was left quite frustrated when Rea initially denied taking responsibility for the issue. Let’s see what happened after Rea first ignored the abuse Rory McIlroy & Co. faced during the 2025 Ryder Cup.

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Don Rea’s ignorance gets him in trouble with the entire golf community

Standing in front of thousands of fans at Bethpage, Don Rea advised Rory McIlroy & Co. to understand the abuse they faced in the heat of the moment. And that wasn’t even the end of the story. The President of the PGA of America decided to double down on his statement.

Sharing a post on his LinkedIn, Rea said, “This is my profile, not the PGA’s. That being said, thank you to all who have reached out to me as a friend and golf industry leader.”

“I’m personally taking some criticism right now, and that comes with the role, and just like when I was an umpire, I expect it. However, to the students and PGA members who follow me, know this: I am not bothered. I know who I ultimately serve. When I wrote this sermon 3 years ago, I meant it, and today I am living it. The truth is still the truth. New level. New devil.”

Rea’s refusal to understand the magnitude of his mistakes cost him dearly. At first, it was Michael McEwan who tweeted, “‘I am not bothered.’ Doubling-down is a very bold strategy, Don.” Matt Fitzpatrick also stated that it was quite offensive for Rea to suggest something like that.

A video of Don Rea performing “Lose Yourself” by Eminem also surfaced a few days later. Fans mocked him for his bad leadership and focus on player entertainment instead.

Even the ex-President Ted Bishop was surprised by how the fans behaved. Speaking about the crowd at Bethpage, he wrote, “For fans to throw you know a beer can, whatever it was at Rory and Erica, his wife, I knew when she was on the PGA Tournament committee, her tournament center crew. I mean, that’s just, that’s a horrible behavior.”

If the former leader could notice the issue while not being a part of the event, then it’s a surprise that Don Rea couldn’t see it while being at Bethpage.