Fitzpatrick Criticizes PGA President’s Remarks on Fan Behavior
The ongoing discourse following the 2023 Ryder Cup intensified as European golfer Matt Fitzpatrick publicly rebuked Don Rea, the president of the PGA of America, for his comments regarding fan behavior. Rea’s comparison of the crowd dynamics at Bethpage Black in New York and the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Italy, where the Ryder Cup took place, drew sharp criticism from Fitzpatrick, who described the remarks as “pretty offensive to European fans.”
During a BBC interview on Sunday, Rea addressed the hostile atmosphere directed towards Rory McIlroy, who faced taunts and harassment from the crowd throughout the tournament. This led to heightened security measures for the Irish golfer during his play. Rea stated, “It happened when we were in Rome on the other side and Rory understands … things like that are going to happen,” suggesting a parallel between the two events.
Fitzpatrick, speaking to reporters ahead of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland, strongly disagreed with this assessment. He remarked, “What the PGA of America guy said about it being the same in Rome—he clearly wasn’t there.” His comments indicated that the fan interactions in Rome were fundamentally different, emphasizing that they were “always playful, just banter.”
The English golfer also expressed his feelings about the atmosphere during the trophy presentation after Europe secured a narrow victory with a score of 15-13. Fitzpatrick noted a sense of bitterness from Rea during the event, saying, “Me and Rosie [Justin Rose] looked at each other thinking the congratulations didn’t feel very heartfelt.” He pointed out that Rea’s remark about merely retaining the Ryder Cup overlooked their achievement of winning it.
As the conversation around fan behavior and sportsmanship continues, Fitzpatrick’s comments have highlighted a rift between the perceptions of European and American golf fans, underscoring the cultural differences that often play out in international sporting events. The implications of such remarks may influence future interactions and the overall atmosphere at golf tournaments.
