Reports: Golf chief who provoked anger at 2025 Ryder Cup quietly replaced

The president of the PGA of America has been quietly replaced on the board of the PGA Tour and their for-profit entity, according to reports.

Golfweek and The Quadrilateral are reporting that Don Rea is no longer a member of either the PGA Tour Inc. and PGA Tour Enterprises board. 

Nathan Charnes, the vice president of the PGA of America, appears to have replaced Rea. 

Rea, 58, came under intense scrutiny during the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in New York. 

He initially dismissed the abuse European players received in the Big Apple as no worse than "a youth soccer game". 

Rea was also filmed doing karaoke at the height of the Ryder Cup abuse row. 

And he angered several European players during the trophy presentation by declaring the team had only retained and not won the Cup outright after their 15-13 victory.

Luke Donald's dozen were subjected to vitriolic abuse during the biennial matches, with Rory McIlroy the primary target. 

An emcee hired to rev up the crowd on the first tee resigned after she repeated chants of "f--- you, Rory" on the second day of the matches. 

McIlroy's wife, Erica, was also struck with a drinks cup thrown from the grandstand. 

"You've got 50,000 people here that are really excited, and heck, you could go to a youth soccer game and get some people who say the wrong things," Rea said when asked if the some members of the home crowd crossed the line. 

He went on to say the spectators' behaviour was distracting American players too because they had to spend energy helping to control the crowd.

Rea also said he was unaware of the abuse directed towards McIlroy.

"I haven't heard some of that," he said. "I'm sure it happened. It happens when we're over in Rome on the other side, and Rory understands. Things like that are going to happen."

Rea later apologised with a lengthy statement posted to his personal LinkedIn page. 

Watch: Fitzpatrick criticises Rea

Derek Sprague, who has since stepped down as the chief executive of the PGA of America for personal reasons, also wrote a lengthy letter of apology to McIlroy and Erica. 

A PGA Tour spokesperson confirmed to Golfweek that Charnes has replaced Rea but did not say which side "initiated the move". 

Sprague stepped down as the chief executive after just one year in the role in early January. 

He said he made the decision so he could spend more time caring for his mother and mother-in-law. 

Terry Clark has been appointed his replacement and will officially start on 2 March.

A PGA of America spokesperson has provided a statement to the Golf Channel late on Thursday evening.  

"As has been observed, PGA of America president Don Rea's responsibilities are now aligned to member-first priorities for the remainder of his term," they said. 

"He will focus on board leadership, governance, section engagement and initiatives that directly support PGA of America golf professionals and reinforce the grassroots foundation of the association. 

"With the recent CEO leadership transition complete and a new president taking office this fall, these changes reflect the board's commitment to governance clarity, leadership alignment and sustained momentum for the association."