SACKED PRESIDENT WILL RETAIN PGA MEMBERSHIP PRIVILEGES

PGA OF AMERICA CLARIFIES ITS 

PUNISHMENT OF TED BISHOP

By JIM McCABE

They are calling it a "clarification," though it also could be filed under the heading of “a matter of semantics.” 

But it’s the latest entry into the Ted Bishop saga as the fall-out continues days after he was removed as president of the PGA of America.

Monday morning, the PGA of America issued a statement addressing the particulars to Bishop’s ouster in the aftermath of his Twitter comment in which he called Ian Poulter a “Lil’ girl” after the Englishman's criticism of former Ryder Cup captains Nick Faldo and Tom Watson.
The release read: “The PGA of America would like to clarify that Ted Bishop will retain his status as a member of the PGA of America. As such, he will enjoy the same rights and privileges of all PGA members, including the ability to attend PGA of America events.”
There had been published reports claiming that Bishop would not be recognised in the PGA of America record books as its 38th president or be welcomed at future events such as the PGA Championship or Ryder Cup. 
Those reports were made based on Bishop’s statement, which read this way and which Golfweek.com posted: “The PGA has also informed me that I will not become the honorary president nor will I ever be recognised as a past president in our association’s history.”
In essence, the PGA of America is clarifying Bishop’s statement. But in its clarification, the group is a bit misleading to suggest that the former president “will enjoy the same rights and privileges of all PGA members, including the ability to attend PGA of America events.”
That was never suggested. Instead, what was at the heart of published reports was that Bishop would lose his title of “honorary president” (that’s true) and what comes with that is the opportunity to travel to future events such as a PGA Championship or Ryder Cup as a dignitary or official (also true), which is what Bishop meant by saying he wouldn’t be “recognised as a past president.”
Yes, Bishop can still attend a PGA Championship or a Ryder Cup as a PGA of America member, but losing the perks that come with being an “honorary president” is seen as part of his punishment. 
It’s only a matter of semantics to see it as otherwise or to surmise that the PGA of America’s Board of Directors was seriously aligned against Bishop.
“Drastic consequences for the offence I have committed," Bishop said, "but I must live with them.”