Nov. 10, 2012 – At its 96th annual meeting, the PGA of America elects Ted Bishop, who since 1991 has been general manager and director of golf at The Legends Golf Club in Franklin, Ind., a 45-hole complex that is home to the Indiana PGA Section and Indiana Golf Association, as its 38th president. As with all PGA presidents, his term is for two years.
Nov. 10, 2012 – At the same annual meeting, the PGA names Peter Bevacqua as its newest chief executive officer, replacing Joe Steranka, who is scheduled to retire at the end of the year.
Dec. 13, 2012 – Tom Watson is officially named captain of the 2014 U.S. Ryder Cup team. Watson, who previously captained the victorious 1993 U.S. team, says Bishop approached him about serving another term as captain 13 months ago. Bishop was so determined to have Watson return as captain, he produced an 85-page document detailing the reasons why the eight-time major champion should get a return engagement.
February 2013 – Bishop says he is “totally in concert” with the PGA Tour’s stance against the USGA and R&A’s proposed ban on anchoring putters. He also says many PGA of America members who originally supported the proposed ban now oppose it.
March 2013 – Bishop writes a column that says the proposed anchoring ban “has become one of the most divisive issues that modern-day golf has seen. The PGA of America feels that there is no logical reason to proceed with Rule 14-1b.” Bishop also states his belief that a ban would lead to bifurcation – pros and amateurs operating under two different sets of rules.
April 2013 – According to a story in Golf World, Bishop and R&A chief executive Peter Dawson have a testy exchange at the Masters over the proposed anchoring ban. Bishop says the PGA of America is standing up for the “best interests of the amateur golfer.” Dawson replies, “That’s not your role.” Later, when Bishop tells Dawson he hopes he doesn’t take their exchange personally, Dawson replies that “irreparable damage” had been done.
April 2013 – In an interview with Golf World senior writer and Golf Channel contributor Tim Rosaforte, Bishop criticizes the R&A’s male-only membership policy: “I find that to be very curious and perplexing given the fact that the R&A has not been inclusive as evidenced by their unwillingness to accept women as members to the R&A. This is a much different approach than we have taken in America.”
May 21, 2013 – The USGA and R&A formally announce a ban on the anchored stroke. Rule 14-1b is to take effect on Jan. 1, 2016, when the next edition of the Rules of Golf is published.
Oct. 22, 2013 – Bishop is inducted into the Indiana Golf Hall of Fame. Bishop is a native of Logansport, Ind., graduated from Purdue and began his career as a professional and superintendent at the Phil Harris Golf Course in Linton, Ind. From 1997-98, he served as president of the Indiana PGA section, and was the 1998 Indiana PGA Golf Professional of the Year.
Nov. 14, 2013 – Speaking on Golf Channel’s “Morning Drive,” Bishop says he would like to see a PGA Championship played at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland. He later explains that he was simply offering a “personal opinion” and not one necessarily as president of the PGA of America.
February 2014 – Bishop and PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem make one final appeal to the USGA to consider a grandfather period that would allow recreational amateurs to continue using anchored clubs after 2016.
March 5, 2014 – The USGA rejects a grandfather period for anchoring.
March 12, 2014 – With trends continuing to show that Americans are playing less golf, the PGA of America announces it has created a 10-person task force to combat an overall decline in play through “non-traditional” means. Among the ideas offered by Bishop during an appearance on “Morning Drive” are “foot golf,” where players navigate the course by kicking a soccer ball toward a 21-inch hole, and introducing a “more relaxed set of rules” for recreational players. Bishop also proposes having a time clock in pro shops, where players who don’t have enough time to play nine or 18 holes could “punch in” and “punch out,” receiving a prorated greens fee based on the amount of time they spent on the course.
April 2014 – Speaking at a meeting of the Louisville Rotary Club, Bishop floats the idea of keeping the Ryder Cup matches at Valhalla Golf Club when they are contested in the U.S. every four years.
June 20, 2014 – Bishop announces that a long-drive contest for players, which had been an on-and-off part of PGA Championship week until 1985, when it became a separate event now known as the Remax World Long Drive Championship, will be brought back for this year’s PGA Championship at Valhalla.
July 22, 2014 – A report by ESPN.com says that more than 500 PGA professionals were let go after Dick’s Sporting Goods fired all of the full-time professionals in its golf sections.
July 29, 2014 – Bishop announces a two-year arrangement under which the boys’ and girls’ winners at the Junior PGA Championship will get exemptions into a PGA Tour and an LPGA event, respectively.
Sept. 13, 2014 – Rickie Fowler says Bishop apologized to him for the way the PGA Championship ended because of fading daylight, with eventual winner Rory McIlroy allowed to tee off on the final hole while Phil Mickelson and Fowler were still playing the hole.
Sept. 23, 2014 – Following the lead of Fowler, Bishop has “USA” shaved into the side of his head for the Ryder Cup.
Sept. 28, 2014 – At Gleneagles in Scotland, Europe hands the U.S. its eighth loss in the past 10 Ryder Cups, The final score is 16 1/2 to 11 1/2.
Oct. 14, 2014 – In response to much hand-wringing over yet another U.S. Ryder Cup loss, especially critical comments by Phil Mickelson during the post-match news conference, the PGA announces the creation of an 11-member task force that will examine the U.S. Ryder Cup process, from how captains and players are selected to the schedule of events and how the team prepares for the matches. The panel will include incoming PGA of America president Derek Sprague and CEO Pete Bevacqua, former Ryder Cup captains Raymond Floyd, Tom Lehman and Davis Love III, plus Tiger Woods and Mickelson. Paul Azinger, the only winning U.S. captain (2008) since 1999, declines an offer to join the group, but doesn’t rule out participating in the future.
Oct. 23, 2014 – Bishop goes on social media and calls Ian Poulter a “Lil Girl” for Poulter’s cricical comments about Nick Faldo in Poulter’s recently released autobiography. Poulter, in a statement released exclusively to Golf Channel, calls Bishop’s remarks “shocking and disappointing. Is being called a “lil girl” meant to be derogatory or a put down?” Poulter tells Golf Channel. “That’s pretty shocking and disappointing, especially coming from the leader of the PGA of America. No further comment.”
Oct. 24, 2014 – The PGA of America announces it has removed Bishop from office “for insensitive gender-based statements posted yesterday on social media” and promotes Derek Sprague from vice president to interim president until Nov. 22, when the election of new national officers will take place at the PGA annual meeting. Bishop issues his own statement in which he apologizes for his remarks, explains why he refused to resign (“because I wanted to speak to our PGA Board of Directors, offer a personal apology and let the due process take place in this matter”), calls his ouster an “impeachment” and reveals that the PGA “has also informed me that I will not become the Honorary President nor will I ever be recognized as a Past President in our Association’s history.”
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