What PGA of America boss told Rory McIlroy, wife Erica in apology letter

The PGA of America CEO apologized to Rory McIlroy and his wife, Erica, for how fans treated them during last weekend’s Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black.

Derek Sprague told The Athletic on Wednesday morning he had a long phone call with McIlroy’s manager, Sean O’Flaherty, and asked him to share a letter to the couple.

“I sent a long email to share with Rory and Erica and just told him that we will do better in the future,” Sprague said. “I’m the CEO now. I don’t condone this type of behavior. This is not good for the game of golf. It’s not good for the Ryder Cup. It’s not good for any of the professional athletes, and we will do better.”

Sprague, who has known Erica — who had a drink swatted at her Saturday that left her stunned — from her time working for the PGA of America, expressed further displeasure with the fans and Heather McMahan, the actress who quit her role as emcee Saturday after participating in a “f–k you Rory” chant.

“I’m disappointed in fan behavior, disappointed in the first tee and the emcee that it’s just that’s not who we are,” Sprague told The Athletic. “And I was just really, really, really disappointed.”

McIlroy at one point flipped off fans and told others to “shut the f–k up” as he tried to navigate the verbal abuse.

The stance taken by Sprague is in stark contrast to comment made by PGA of America president Don Rea, who downplayed fans’ vile behavior during an interview with the BBC.

“Well, you’ve got 50,000 people here that are really excited. Heck, you can go to a youth soccer game and get some people who say the wrong things,” Rea said. “We tell the fans, booing somebody doesn’t make them play worse. Typically it makes them play better. And when our American players have to control the crowd, that distracts them from playing.”

Asked about the insults hurled toward McIlroy in particular, Rea said, “I haven’t heard some of that. I’m sure it’s happened. It happens when we’re over in Rome on the other side, and Rory understands. I thought he handled the press conference (Sunday) amazingly. But yeah, things like that are gonna happen and I don’t know what was said, but all I know is golf is the engine of good.”