Don Rea Jr. removed as PGA of America president

Field Level Media|published: Tue 26th May, 10:47 2026

May 13, 2024; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; A PGA of America flag during a practice round for the PGA Championship golf tournament at Valhalla Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images

Don Rea Jr. is out as president of the PGA of America, effective immediately.

Tuesday's news came on the heels of the PGA of America's board of directors suspending Rea for the remainder of his two-year team, which ends in November.

PGA of America vice president Nathan Charnes has been named acting president.

Rea came under fire for failing to apologize amid a raucous New York crowd hurling personal insults at Rory McIlroy and his family during the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black. Rea did later issue apologies, but he was also caught on video performing a karaoke version of Eminem's "Lose Yourself" on Saturday night of the Cup, when the U.S. trailed by seven points.

He ruffled feathers at the end of the matches, when Europe won 15-13 and Rea said Europe "retained" the Cup rather than won it outright during the trophy presentation.

And earlier in 2025, Rea was widely seen as overshadowing the PGA's CEO at the time, Derek Sprague, at the PGA Championship press conference with his big personality.

Rea was named the 44th president of the PGA of America on Nov. 7, 2024.

--Field Level Media

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