PGA of America president ousted after calling Ian Poulter ‘lil girl’

The PGA of America board has removed Ted Bishop as president after he lashed out at Ian Poulter via social media for his critical comments of the Ryder Cup captaincy of Nick Faldo and Tom Watson, calling the British golfer a “lil girl.”

Poulter criticized the golfing greats for their performance as Ryder Cup captains in a new book. Faldo led the European team that lost in 2008; Watson oversaw the Americans’ lopsided defeat in Scotland last month.

“Faldo’s record stands by itself,” Bishop tweeted on Thursday night. “Six majors and all-time RC points. Yours vs. His? Lil Girl.”

On Facebook, the president wrote: “Really? Sounds like a little school girl squealing during recess. C’MON MAN!”

In recent years, Poulter has forged a reputation as a clutch Ryder Cup player for Europe. He made his derogatory comments in a book titled “No Limits.”

“Is being called a ‘lil girl’ meant to be derogatory or a put down?” Poulter said in a statement released to the Golf Channel. “That’s pretty shocking and disappointing, especially coming from the leader of the PGA of America. No further comment.”

Bishop, who was asked to resign by other PGA of America officers, quickly removed his posts.

“Obviously I could have selected some different ways to express my thoughts on Poulter’s remarks,” he said in an email to the Associated Press. “Golf had always been a sport where respect was shown to its icons. That seems to have gone by the wayside.”

Bishop added later in a statement: “I want to apologize to Ian Poulter and anyone else that I might have offended with my remarks on social media that appeared on October 23, 2014. Particularly, I have great remorse that my comments contained the words ‘little girl’ because I have always been a great advocate for girls and women in golf.”

The PGA of America board acted Friday after a meeting with Bishop, who did not want to vacate his position.

“The board heard me out and then voted to impeach me,” Bishop said. “That is the due process and I respect that, as painful as it might be.”

The board released the following statement from chief executive Pete Bevacqua: “The PGA of America understands the enormous responsibility it has to lead this great game and to enrich lives in our society through golf. We must demand of ourselves that we make golf both welcoming and inclusive to all who want to experience it, and everyone at the PGA of America must lead by example.”