Ted Bishop: What the hell is wrong with you?

Just when you thought all of this Ryder Cup drama was about to die down. Oops. On Thursday, PGA of America President Ted Bishop referred to European golfer Ian Poulter as a "little girl" on Bishop's Twitter and Facebook pages. It was an immature response to Poulter's recent criticism of how Nick Faldo (2008) and Tom Watson (2014) did as past Ryder Cup captains in his new autobiography. Poulter was also less than professional in that criticism, thus prompting Bishop's tone.

Because, you know; two wrongs apparently make a right. Both posts have since been deleted.

You wouldn't be able to tell by Bishop's childish response, but the Prez's main point of contention was his belief that both Faldo and Watson's respective individual golf careers speak for themselves. This apparently makes either man exempt from any type of ridicule, especially from the likes of Ian Poulter. Whatever.

Here's the problem: as a reminder, Ted Bishop is the president of the PGA of America; a position that is about as important to American professional golf as you could hope to achieve. He is also a key stakeholder and decision-maker come Ryder Cup time, which further highlights the sensitivity anything he says related to the event immediately carries. To put it bluntly, what he says is suppose to matter.

So much for that.

Without even addressing the fact that a man of his authority resorting to name-calling is obscenely degrading to American golf, Bishop's analogy of choice is sure to touch a nerve among female golfers in this country. For a guy who has fretted about finding new ways to grow the game, it probably isn't a good idea to refer to 50 percent of the sport's population in an ignominious tone.

But hey, I'm just a stupid golf blogger. What do I know?

How about this: There is such a thing as "leading by example," especially among individuals who hold a position of authority. There was nothing that Ian Poulter wrote in his book that invites Ted Bishop to react in any way, let alone in the shameful manner which he displayed on his social media accounts.

There is no excuse for someone of Ted Bishop's status and responsibility to behave in a manner that would be embarrassing for someone at any age. If there was any question as to why the United States is not taken seriously at the Ryder Cup, perhaps we need not look any further than those at the very top.

Shane Bacon: 10 Things to Change in Pro Golf

This week, Yahoo Sports golf blogger Shane Bacon published a list of ten things he'd like to see change in professional golf. Any -- if not all -- of his list items would be fantastic to see, but I thought I would throw my two cents in as well. Using Bacon's list as a guide, here are ten things I'd also like to see change in pro golf.

Walking rules officials in each group -- I agree with Shane on this one. Having a rules official with every group in a tournament would not only eliminate controversial rulings on the course, but it would also add an element sorely missing from the game: consistency in rule enforcement.

FedExCup Match Play -- This is something I've been telling anyone who would listen for years, so I'm happy to see Shane agrees. The current FedExCup Playoffs structure is boring and flawed. When I think "playoffs", I think "brackets", and when I think "brackets" in golf, I think "match play".

I don't care if there are WGC events, the Ryder Cup, the Presidents Cup and whatever else. Bring match play to the FedEx.

Hold an LPGA event at Augusta National -- This idea might be crazy enough to work. Honestly, I don't think we'll ever see a female golf tournament at the home of the Masters, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't bug the piss out of Augusta National until it happens. I'll lead the charge.

Force big names to play in team events -- I'm not sure how I feel about this suggestion (mandate guys like Tiger, Phil, and other big-timers play in the Ryder Cup and President's Cup), because I really don't see this becoming an issue. Sponsors have a lot more to say than we may think when it comes to who plays where, so that's that.

Instead, I would like a rule where only the top 3-5 point leaders automatically get a spot on the team. Qualifiers -- not captains -- would then get to "draft" the rest of the players from the entire pool of competitors to fill up both teams.

Laser flagsticks? -- This idea is ridiculous... and I love it. As Bacon points out in his piece, if the US Open can have wicker baskets on poles, then other tournaments can have hologram flagsticks. Let's make it happen.

Alright, here are a few additions of my own:

Keep the PGA Championship in the United States -- There has been talk of future PGA Championships being held overseas, and it makes absolutely no sense to me. Globalizing the game can be done in numerous ways, but none of them should include shipping off a major championship to "force" the issue. PGA President Ted Bishop needs to make an announcement that his tournament is staying home, and that's it.

Match Play Championship for long drive athletes -- Why the hell not? These behemoths who pound 400+-yard drives are actually decent golfers in their own right, and who wouldn't love to see these guys tear apart a golf course head-to-head? If it makes golf traditionalists happier, hold the event in December instead of the Wendy's 3 Tour Challenge. That event sucks anyway.

Make Drug Testing as transparent as possible -- I don't care how this happens, but we need to make PGA Tour and Euro Tour drug testing loud, transparent and as public as possible right now. This is the only way to keep our sport from turning into a comical sideshow saturated with assumptions and accusations (see: Major League Baseball).

Allow cameras at every tournament -- I get it; pro golfers don't like swinging clubs amid a wave of shutter clicks and flash bulbs. But if these guys can do exactly that during a practice round with seemingly no issue, why can't we just allow it full-time? Marshals wouldn't have to throw people out, phones wouldn't get confiscated, and golf spectators would be treated the same way as those at other major sporting events.

Abolish the wraparound schedule idea -- This is a brand-new feature of the PGA Tour schedule this season, but that doesn't mean it makes any sense. Players shouldn't be asked to play golf year-round for FedExCup or world ranking points. They deserve an offseason, just like every other pro athlete.

Jason Dufner's Wife Looks Great in a Dress

During last year's Ryder Cup Gala in Chicago, I had the opportunity to photograph the players and their spouses/dates as they walked the red carpet at the Akoo Theater. Needless to say, newest PGA Champion Jason Dufner and his wife, Amanda, stole the show. Why? Just look at Amanda's dress!

Now we all know what Duf is smirking about these days.

Oakbrook to Showcase Special Ryder Cup Exhibit

For the first time in its storied history, a special Ryder Cup Exhibit will be opened to the public to showcase items from some of the tournaments greats, such as Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Walter Hagen, Davis Love III and Jose Maria Olazabal. The grand opening of the “Ryder Cup Exhibit ... Where Legends are Forged and Legacies are Made” will take place at Oakbrook Center starting at noon Friday and running through the final day of Ryder Cup play on Sept. 30, according to the Daily Herald.

The exhibit will showcase more than 4,000 square-feet of Ryder Cup memorabilia detailing the history of the event. More than 60 rare items will be on display, including the actual golf bag Nicklaus used during the famous “Concession” match in 1969.

Other items rumored to be shown include Walter Hagen's driver from the 1920s, a lunch menu signed by Hagen from the same era, official Ryder Cup programs from as early as 1933, and many more.

Admission is free at Oakbrook Shopping Center, 100 Oakbrook Center, in Oak Brook.