I was sacked for making a dig at Ian Poulter – it is the biggest regret of my life’

The Fall of Ted Bishop: A Cautionary Tale for Executives in the Digital Age

In a stark reminder of the perils of social media for high-ranking executives, Ted Bishop, the former president of the PGA of America, paid the ultimate price for a single misstep nearly ten years ago. One comment, one moment of judgment lapse, and his career at the top was over—all due to a poorly phrased public attack on British golfer Ian Poulter. Bishop’s story serves as a cautionary tale, illustrating how a momentary lapse online can lead to long-lasting consequences.

The incident began in 2014, when Bishop responded publicly to Poulter’s criticism of golf legends Sir Nick Faldo and Tom Watson in the latter’s autobiography No Limits. In the book, Poulter questioned some of the decisions Faldo and Watson had made as Ryder Cup captains, especially the pairings during key matches. In one notable remark, Poulter pointed out that Watson’s omission of Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley from a Saturday morning pairing during the Ryder Cup hinted at underlying issues within the U.S. team, stating, “Most of us in the European team are astonished when we see the Saturday morning pairings and their names are not there… It tells us that there are problems in the U.S. team room.”

Bishop, clearly unhappy with the public criticism of Faldo and Watson, reacted on his personal X and Facebook accounts, labeling Poulter a “lil girl.” The comment was widely perceived as an “insensitive gender-based” insult, tarnishing the image of the American golf establishment and inciting significant backlash. While Bishop swiftly deleted the post, it was too late. In the digital age, his words had already circulated rapidly, and the repercussions were unavoidable. The PGA of America responded quickly, removing him from his post as president.

Poulter, who had been at the heart of Bishop’s criticism, was vocal about his disappointment, stating, “Is being called a ‘lil girl’ meant to be derogatory or a put down? That’s pretty shocking and disappointing, especially coming from the leader of the PGA of America. No further comment.” The comment underscored the hurt felt by Poulter and the bewilderment that such language came from one of golf’s top officials.

Looking back on the incident nearly a decade later, Bishop revealed that he remains haunted by his actions, calling it “the biggest regret of my life.” In an interview with Sports Illustrated, he admitted, “There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about it. I felt like we did a lot of good things in those two years, and it didn’t end the way I envisioned… I make no excuses. It was a bonehead move. It had been a rough few weeks after the Ryder Cup, and I just kind of got sucked into the moment.”

The impact of the fallout was felt long after his departure. Calls for Bishop’s reinstatement circulated in the years following, but the PGA of America showed no signs of reversing their decision. However, Bishop redirected his passion for golf, finding a new path by becoming the director and manager of The Legends Golf Club in Franklin, Indiana. Here, he oversaw the development of a 45-hole complex, channeling his dedication into a venture closer to his heart.

Ted Bishop’s story remains a powerful reminder of the speed at which one can both rise and fall in the public eye. His experience underscores the double-edged nature of social media for executives. In an era where views can go viral in an instant, it takes only a single misstep to tarnish a reputation built over decades.