Tom Watson Declines Induction into PGA Hall of Fame

Golf legend Tom Watson has declined the PGA of America’s offer to join their Hall of Fame based on the organisation’s dismissal of Tom Bishop.

2014’s Ryder Cup captain made it known he did not wish to be inducted following what he saw as a mishandling of Bishop’s departure last year, just weeks shy of the former president’s contract expiring.

In a statement to Golf World Digital last week Watson confirmed his decision,

“While I was very flattered by PGA president [Derek] Sprague’s honoring me to be inducted into the PGA Hall of Fame, I couldn’t accept in good conscience because of how the PGA mishandled the firing of my friend and immediate past president of the PGA, Ted Bishop.”

Last year Bishop became embroiled in controversy after comments he made on Twitter and Facebook following the publication of English golfer Ian Poulter’s autobiography.  Poulter’s critique of 2008 Ryder Cup captain Nick Faldo led Bishop to label the Titleist player “a lil girl.”

While the then president went on to apologise for the jibe and delete the posts, the PGA of America thought it was a serious enough infraction to warrant ending his term there and then; A decision that obviously didn’t sit well with his friend, Watson.

Bishop appointed Watson the 2014 Ryder Cup Captain, making him the oldest captain in the event’s history.  The U.S. would go on to suffer a crushing defeat to Europe at Gleneagles, with Watson taking heat for his coaching style, most notably from team member Phil Mickelson who criticised Watson’s lack of communication in a tense press conference afterwards.

But it seems even through controversy and loss Bishop and Watson have remained firm friends.  Continuing to back one another through thick and thin.