Bishop Situation Clarified; Former PGA of America Head Discusses Ouster


The PGA of America released a "statement of clarification" on Monday about its ouster of former president, Ted Bishop. Bishop was removed last Friday from his position because of "insensitive gender-based statements" directed at English golfer Ian Poulter on social media.

Last Thursday, Bishop, who oversaw an organization with 27,000 club professionals nationwide and began his two-year term in November 2012, got into hot water after calling Poulter a "Lil Girl" for his comments about Nick Faldo in Poulter's newly released autobiography.

In his book, "No Limits," Poulter wrote that the 2014 European Ryder Cup team was furious with Faldo, who captained the squad's losing effort in 2008. Poulter said Faldo didn't have the respect of Europe's top players after he described Spaniard Sergio Garcia as "useless" at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville.

"It makes me laugh," Poulter wrote. "Faldo is talking about someone being useless at the 2008 Ryder Cup. That's the Ryder Cup where he was captain. That's the Ryder Cup where the Europe team suffered a heavy defeat. So who's useless? Faldo might need to have a little look in the mirror."

Bishop's full Twitter post said: "Faldo's record stands by itself. Six majors and all-time RC (Ryder Cup) points. Yours vs. His? Lil Girl."

On his Facebook page, Bishop added: "Tom Watson (8 majors and a 10-3-1 Ryder Cup record) and Nick Faldo (6 majors and all-time Ryder Cup points leader) get bashed by Ian James Poulter. Really? Sounds like a little school girl squealing during recess. C'MON MAN!"

On Tuesday, Bishop was interviewed on Golf Channel. He apologized for his remarks. "I really regret, like you can't imagine, what I did and what I said, particularly the implication that came out of it," Bishop said. "I think what I was really trying to say was, 'Why don't we all grow up?'

"I'm just old-school from the standpoint that I think icons in the game should be treated with a certain amount of reverence, and I felt like that didn't happen necessarily with Tom after the Ryder Cup, and it wasn't happening with Nick then."

The association removed Bishop even though his tenure as PGA of America president was set to end November 22 at its annual meeting in Indianapolis. The 60-year-old Bishop, the director of golf at the Legends Golf Club in Franklin, Ind., oversaw an organization with 27,000 club professional members. In addition to the biennial Ryder Cup matches, the association runs the PGA Championship.

During his Golf Channel interview Bishop said he felt the penalty of being removed from office was not warranted. He noted that several people, including former LPGA star and current ESPN golf analyst Dottie Pepper, contacted him and encouraged him to publicly apologize.

Suzy Whaley, a prominent female member of the PGA of America and a teaching pro from Farmington, Conn., applauded the association's quick response to Bishop's comments on social media. Whaley, who made national news when she competed in the PGA Tour's Greater Hartford Open 11 years, is running to become the next secretary of the PGA of America and in position to be appointed as the first female president of the PGA of America.

"Obviously, I was extremely disturbed by it," the 47-year-old Whaley said in a Friday interview on Golf Channel. "They were extremely insulting and sexist.

"For me to hear comments that are derogatory about young girls, or insulting, just because you are a girl, is offensive. Our board of directors took swift action. The PGA of America finds it quite critical to be inclusive and we will continue to do so moving forward.

"I was in 100 percent support of the board of directors," Whaley added. "Our mission is to grow the game of golf, to be inclusive. I am extremely proud of the PGA membership and what I do on a daily basis to include young women and young men from all backgrounds into the game. There are 27,000 of us out there each and every day teaching young men and women, that are changing their lives through the game of golf. I'm so proud of that.

"We need to really empower young women and young girls . . . I was mentored by male PGA professionals, who encouraged me and taught me the game, who taught me life lessons and really wanted me to understand I could do anything, anything in the game of golf, or anything I chose to do in a professional in my life. That came from a male PGA professional."

Bishop told GolfWorld.com that he tried to make amends with the PGA of America's board, but it was too late. "I apologized to the board, reiterated that I had very much wanted to make a public apology," he said. "And I said I don't think the punishment fits the crime. And that doesn't mean I don't have remorse for what I did. Trust me, I abused my platform.

"I know I made a huge mistake. I'm the first to say that. I let my personal feelings for two guys get in the way, and I used a bad choice of words in trying to convey my frustration."

"I created this mess," he said on the Golf Channel interview. "It's my fault. It's not the PGA of America's fault, it's my fault. I don't think the punishment fits the crime, but it is what it is and I have to accept that, and I'm not bitter about that in any way, shape or form."