The public was not satisfied with the reaction of the president of the PGA of America, Don Rea, who pointed out that he was not aware that Rory McIlroy had been abused at the last Ryder Cup. This immediately caused fierce reactions from golf fans in Europe, but also from the players who represented Europe at the Ryder Cup. Although everyone knows that the Northern Irish golfer has been the target of provocations from fans, Rea was not aware of it.
Speaking to Golf Channel with Rex Hoggard, PGA of America CEO Derek Sprague apologized to Rory McIlroy and his wife Erica.
Golf is a traditional game with enormous prestige and values, and it is clear that incidents like this tarnish the general image of golf.
Sprague also stressed that he plans to send a personal message to Rory and Erica, admitting that he feels bad about everything that happened on Bethpage Black.
"I talked a little to Paul McGinley last night. I havent spoken to Rory or Erica, I do plan on sending them an e-mail with my heartfelt apologies because of what occurred," Sprague said, as quoted by Golf Monthly.
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"Theres no place for that in the Ryder Cup or the game of golf. I heard Rory say it, were better than that in golf.
Thats one thing our game has always portrayed when you compare us to other sports is that golf is a great game and people enjoy the game because of the values that golf has.
I cant wait to reach out to Rory and Erica, and really the entire European team. Rory might have been a target because of how good he is, but the entire European team should not have been subjected to that.
I feel badly and I plan on apologizing to them."
Reactions
This reaction of one of the most important figures of the golf scene in America certainly caused positive reactions in Europe.
However, there are plenty of Americans who feel that their team has crossed the line of decency and that the Ryder Cup really needs to carry different values, with the goal of putting an end to this kind of thing.
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We will see if the Americans will receive a somewhat different reception on European soil in two years. However, it is known that European fans are not always kind to American golfers and that they often have violent reactions.
