Golf Magazine Interview with Ted Bishop

**billchao** · January 8, 2015

http://www.golf.com/tour-and-news/ted-bishop-golf-magazine-interview

Quote:

Reminders of his demise surround him. Ted Bishop -- fired last fall from his post as the 38th president of the PGA of America for comments he made on social medi a -- sits in his office at the Legends Golf Club, the 45-hole complex near Indianapolis that he co-owns and runs. A folder swells with 70 pages of notes and interviews, evidence of the vetting process that led to Tom Watson helming the 2014 U.S. Ryder Cup team. More than 1,000 letters in support of Bishop litter the floor. On October 23, Bishop was headed for dinner at Nick Faldo's academy at the Greenbrier, in West Virginia, when he learned that Ian Poulter had criticized Faldo's 2008 Ryder Cup captaincy. Still stinging from Team USA's recent loss, Bishop took out his smartphone and called Poulter a "lil girl" via Twitter. He was fired by phone the next day. The lanky 60-year-old says he's ready to "move on," but not before he opens up about his dismissal, explains what Watson did right (and wrong) as captain, and takes us inside the ropes at Gleneagles, where the hopes of the USA -- led by the living legend handpicked by Bishop -- came crashing down.

It's a pretty lengthy interview, but worth the read.

**turtleback** · January 9, 2015

http://www.golf.com/tour-and-news/ted-bishop-golf-magazine-interview

It's a pretty lengthy interview, but worth the read.

Hard to do but while I had a little sympathy for the guy at the time because he got caught up in a 21st century "gotcha" this interview diminishes him in my eyes. He just comes across as a pretty dumb guy.

He throws players (particularly Reed) under the bus, does not understand the difference between a player,who represent only himself, saying something and the PGA President, representing his organization, saying something.

When vetting captains he goes by what guys said about Watson's captaincy 20 years ago??

He hints at mysterious reasons for what Watson did in the pairings?

Mickelson comes to him 2 months before and tells him exactly what he subsequently said at the post-Cup presser and he complains that Phil didn't do it confidentially?? He did do it confidentially and Bishop did nothing about it so Phil went pubic. Why is that so hard to understand?

**billchao** · January 9, 2015

Hard to do but while I had a little sympathy for the guy at the time because he got caught up in a 21st century "gotcha" this interview diminishes him in my eyes. He just comes across as a pretty dumb guy.

I don't think this interview shows he's dumb. He's a guy who made mistakes, but believes in the things he's done and the decisions he's made, without any outside political influences affecting him. That earns him more respect in my eyes.

He throws players (particularly Reed) under the bus, does not understand the difference between a player,who represent only himself, saying something and the PGA President, representing his organization, saying something.

The Reed thing was a face-palm moment, though. He really should have just left that part out. He could have taken the high road on that question and he didn't.

When vetting captains he goes by what guys said about Watson's captaincy 20 years ago??

I read that as it was the final advantage in Watson's "pro" column. He created a huge file on it; I doubt the whole thing was filled with 1993 Ryder Cup highlights.

There is an awful lot of Monday morning quarterbacking with the whole Ryder Cup fiasco, but I agree with Ted Bishop on this one. The U.S. team was beaten up and down the line. I don't think a different captain would have changed the result.

He hints at mysterious reasons for what Watson did in the pairings?

Watson made mistakes for certain, but I think there's some bias in your statement. "Mysterious" reasons has a negative implication to it, as if Watson just picked names out of a hat or something. There were reasons that Bishop won't disclose for one reason or another and that's perfectly alright. There's a lot of things that go on behind the scenes with professional athletes that remain private for legitimate reasons. It happens all the time in sports.

Mickelson comes to him 2 months before and tells him exactly what he subsequently said at the post-Cup presser and he complains that Phil didn't do it confidentially?? He did do it confidentially and Bishop did nothing about it so Phil went pubic. Why is that so hard to understand?

The circumstances were different. When Phil said it after the Scottish Open, it was constructive criticism discussed in confidence. He wasn't even on the team then and there was certainly no way of knowing how Tom Watson was going to run the team.

When he went public with it at the post-Cup press conference, he threw Watson under the bus and it just comes off as sour grapes. Nothing positive could have come from that statement at that particular time. I lost a lot of respect for Phil because of that event.

**turtleback** · January 9, 2015

I don't think this interview shows he's dumb. He's a guy who made mistakes, but believes in the things he's done and the decisions he's made, without any outside political influences affecting him. That earns him more respect in my eyes.

Well we obviously see this from very different perspectives but the good thing is that it is a matter of opinion so it is OK to agree to disagree. And I have disliked Watson for a long time so I'm sure that plays into it as well.

Although on the other hand, I've never been much of a fan of Phil either, yet I support him in this. So go figure.

**billchao** · January 9, 2015

And I have disliked Watson for a long time so I'm sure that plays into it as well.

I didn't know this, but it did seem like it from your post. Cheers. :beer:

**Spitfisher** · January 9, 2015

Didn't read the article but hear the jist about what he did and comparing to Reeds out burst......That's fine talk over a scotch amongst friends but Mr Bishop, let it go....and its time to move on, go play some golf.

***iacas*** · January 9, 2015

When he went public with it at the post-Cup press conference, he threw Watson under the bus and it just comes off as sour grapes. Nothing positive could have come from that statement at that particular time. I lost a lot of respect for Phil because of that event.

I gained respect for Phil when he did that.

Meisce · January 12, 2015

I gained respect for Phil when he did that.

At the time I thought it was inappropriate. In hindsight, I think Phil knew that he would get heavily criticized but also knew that making his argument in this fashion - at a global press conference, in front of the captain, team and USPGA reps - was the most effective ( only? ) way to instigate real change.

I do think part of it was sour grapes - especially given how he was treated on the Saturday. But I think a lot of positive will come from it ( if you're a USA fan.. ). I don't think a quiet word two weeks later behind closed doors would have had nearly this effect.

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