PGA of America President Don Rea Jr. is not expected to be on site at next month’s PGA Championship following a tumultuous 2025 that included controversial comments at the Ryder Cup, as well as his removal from the PGA Tour Policy Board earlier this year.

Rea is in the second year of his two-year term as president of the PGA, but despite his position, he is not expected to be on site at Aronimink Golf Club, according to sources briefed on the PGA’s plans. Rea’s tenure has been marked by a number of high-profile moments for the organization.

He was criticized for initially failing to apologize in September after unruly crowds hurled insults at the European Ryder Cup team at Bethpage Black. He later apologized after public blowback. A video of Rea doing karaoke to Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” also went viral on Saturday night of the matches, with Europe holding a seemingly insurmountable seven-point lead.

Earlier in 2025, at the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, Rea drew criticism for seemingly overshadowing new CEO Derek Sprague at the PGA’s annual Wednesday press conference.

Rea attended this year’s PGA Show in January, but in a “scaled down role,” according to Golfweek. Additionally, both Golfweek and Golf Channel reported in February that Rea had been removed from the PGA Tour Policy Board.

Sprague stepped down from the PGA in January, and when new CEO Terry Clark was announced in February, Rea was not quoted in the organization’s press release. Instead, the organization’s VP, Nathan Charnes, was. Charnes, who’s set to succeed Rea as president, took his place on the PGA Tour board, Golf Channel reported.

At the PGA’s annual Wednesday press conference next month at Aronimink, Charnes is expected to be on the dais alongside Clark and Chief Championships Officer Kerry Haigh.

When contacted Friday, the PGA referenced a statement it gave Golf Channel in February that said Rea’s responsibilities would be “aligned to member-first priorities for the remainder of his term” and that “he will focus on board leadership, governance, section engagement and initiatives that directly support PGA of America Golf Professionals and reinforce the grassroots foundation of the Association.”