PGA of America President backtracks and apologises for "disrespectful" fans at Ryder Cup

PGA of America President Don Rea has backtracked on remarks playing down the abuse of Rory McIlroy at the Ryder Cup and condemned US fan behaviour "unequivocally".

When interviewed by BBC NI at Bethpage Black before Sunday's singles, Rea tried to downplay the personal abuse meted out to McIlroy and other European players.

"Well, you have 50,000 people there that are really excited, and heck, you can go to a youth soccer game and get some people who say the wrong things," Rea said.

Asked specifically about the abuse directed at McIlroy, he added, "I haven't heard some of that. I'm sure it's happened … Rory understands things like that are going to happen."

He went on to say he was "not bothered" by the criticism of his remarks, writing on his personal LinkedIn account, "I know who I ultimately serve... The truth is still the truth. New level. New devil."

But after the PGA of America's CEO, Derek Sprague, apologised earlier this week on Golf Channel, promising to write to McIlroy and his wife, Erica, Rea followed suit in a letter sent to PGA members.

"Let me begin with what we must own," Rea wrote in a letter seen by the Associated Press. "While the competition was spirited — especially with the US team's rally on Sunday afternoon — some fan behaviour clearly crossed the line.

"It was disrespectful, inappropriate, and not representative of who we are as the PGA of America or as PGA of America golf professionals. We condemn that behaviour unequivocally.

As the fallout over the Ryder Cup continues, former Open champion Stewart Cink threw his hat in the ring for the US captaincy at Adare Manor in 2027.

While Tiger Woods, who turned down the chance to do the job at Bethpage, remains the prime candidate to take the reins at the course owned by close friend JP McManus, Cink (52) is keen to do the job.

"Heck yeah, I'm interested in being the Ryder Cup captain. I would love to," Cink said at this week's PGA TOUR Champions event in Florida.

"I'd love to represent the United States and the players, take some of the experience that I've got and apply it and hopefully try to get this thing turned around.

"It feels like the Ryder Cup has been like a European party for about 15 years now or more. I'd like to change that.

Four of Europe's triumphant Ryder Cup team are in action in the weather-delayed Alfred Dunhill Links in Scotland, with Robert MacIntyre holding a share of the halfway lead with South Africa's Richard Sterne on 12-under when play was suspended.

The Scot fired a six-under 66 at Kingsbarns as Sterne shot 67 on the Old Course to lead by a shot from 2010 Open champion Louis Oosthuizen.

Tom McKibbin was just two shots off the pace, tied for fourth on 10-under through 17 holes at Carnoustie when play was called off as flooding made all three courses unplayable.

Conor Purcell's 73 on the Old Course saw him slip to 36th on six-under, while Padraig Harrington was just inside the top 60 and ties who will make the 54-hole cut after a 70 at Kingsbarns left him on four under.

In the World Amateur Team Championships for the Espirito Santo Trophy, Ireland moved up to joint 14th heading into the final round in Singapore.

Lahinch's Aine Donegan shot a 68 and Beth Coulter a 71 as Emma Fleming's 76 was non-counting at Tanah Merah Country Club's Tampines Course.

At one-under, Ireland were 15 shots behind South Korea, who led by three shots from the USA and by four from China and Spain with a round to play.