PGA President makes shocking Rory McIlroy claim: 'I haven't heard some of that...'
Don Rea, the PGA of America President, has batted an eyelid to the outrageous verbal abuse and insults Rory McIlroy received at the 2025 Ryder Cup in New York.
PGA of America President Don Rea has shockingly admitted to not hearing any verbal insults or abuse directed at Rory McIlroy during the Ryder Cup in New York over the weekend.
Rea's interview was captured ahead of the Sunday singles at Bethpage Black by Stephen Watson of BBC Sport.
Whether Rea wants to believe it or not, McIlroy, 36, was verbally insulted on just about every hole during both of his foursomes and fourballs matches, especially on Saturday.
GolfMagic knows first-hand as we covered the Northern Irishman's every move for three days from inside the ropes at Bethpage.
McIlroy received just about every possible insult in the book from a minority of unruly American spectators, some of which included homophobic slurs.
Imagine not only thinking this is acceptable behavior but also then posting it online. Pretty gross. pic.twitter.com/z3THbr7bUT
— Zephyr Melton (@zephyrmelton) September 29, 2025
At one stage even Justin Thomas had to tell his own fans to "shut the f*** up" as a result of the personal insults both McIlroy and his playing partner Shane Lowry were receiving in their fourballs match.
Lowry tried to go after one heckler, only for him to held back by his caddie Darren Reynolds.
Shane Lowry just had to be held back from going after someone in the crowd...
— Flushing It (@flushingitgolf) September 27, 2025
I’ve never seen anything like this at a golf tournament before. pic.twitter.com/5G2sS90u2o
McIlroy's wife was also subject to verbal abuse as she followed her husband around the course, and a drink was even chucked towards her head late on Saturday afternoon.
Here’s the full scene as Rory McIlroy’s wife Erica got hit with a beer (glanced off her hat) on Saturday afternoon.
— Dylan Dethier (@dylan_dethier) September 28, 2025
Rory and Lowry had just won on 18 and he was coming back to 17 to cheer on the groups behind — and celebrate with Euro fans.
Looked like someone hit the drink out… pic.twitter.com/vdG4mAny1s
The insults died down a tad during McIlroy's Sunday singles match against Scottie Scheffler, largely down to the PGA of America finally adding state troopers to eject unruly fans by that stage.
But there was still the odd comment that certainly crossed a line though, not to mention squeaky plastic ducks with which to distract McIlroy in his stride against Scheffler.
Related:
We aren't exactly sure why it took until the fourth session on Saturday afternoon for the PGA of America to realise something needed to be done about ill-disciplined fan behaviour, especially around McIlroy.
Yet when you begin to hear what PGA of America President Rea had to say about the subject below, you sort of begin to see why nothing was ever being done.
It also highlights why there were so many bad mistakes on the PGA's part at the Ryder Cup for that matter, something I explored in my latest feature for GolfMagic having just returned from New York.
Rea first claimed in his interview with BBC's Watson hat booing golfers doesn't necessarily make them play worse, in fact it spurs them on.
"Well you've 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, and you know we tell the fans booing doesn't make somebody play worse, it typically makes them play better," said Rea prior to the singles matches on Sunday where Team USA trailed by seven points.
"When our American players have to control the crowds that distracts them from playing so our message today, to everybody who is out here is cheer on the Americans like never before because that will always get them to play better, and get them out of crowd control and let them perform."
Rea then dropped his McIlroy bombshell.
"I haven't heard some of that," replied Rea when asked for his thoughts about the insults and verbal abuse being aimed towards the European Ryder Cup star at Bethpage.
"I'm sure it's happened, you know it happens when we're over in Rome the other side, and Rory understands.
"I thought he handled the press conference yesterday amazingly, but yeah things like that are going to happen and I don't know what was said..."
Watch Rea's stunning interview here:
Jesus wept.
— Michael McEwan (@MMcEwanGolf) September 30, 2025
What chance do you have when this is how the people in charge respond?
Don Rea, the PGA of America president, resorting to ignorance and whataboutery in response to fans aiming homophobic slurs and worse at Rory McIlroy and his Ryder Cup teammates.
Is this how you… pic.twitter.com/wIW7Ps6UIQ
McIlroy went on to take 3.5 points at the 2025 Ryder Cup, an incredible achievement when you consider the hostile environment he experienced at Bethpage.
Europe led by seven points heading into the final day singles, and despite a late surge from USA it was too little too late as Luke Donald's side held on for a deserved 15-13 win in America's backyard.
It marked the first win from an away team at a Ryder Cup since Medinah in 2012, and a fifth away win for Europe in history.
Andy Roberts first joined GolfMagic on a month's work experience back in April 2011.
Andy then assumed the role of GolfMagic Editor in 2015.
