PGA of America president Don Rea Jr is out after Ryder Cup controversies

• Response to New York crowd behavior was criticized

• Rea: abuse was no worse than at ‘youth soccer game’

Don Rea Jr, who was cricitized for his response to verbal abuse directed at European players during last year’s Ryder Cup, 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 term, which ends in November. PGA of America vice-president Nathan Charnes was named acting president.