COLIN MONTGOMERIE has called out the PGA of America after it broke with almost a century of history by agreeing to pay players to participate in the Ryder Cup.
Since its inception in 1927, the bi-annual contest has prided itself on the fact golfers player simply for pride, rather than financial gain.
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Team Europe celebrate winning the 2023 Ryder CupCredit: Sunday Times
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Patrick Cantlay was the pantomime villain for Team USA in ItalyCredit: Getty
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He was accused of making a fuss over not being paid to play in the eventCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
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Colin Montgomerie has slammed the move to pay Team USA players from next yearCredit: Getty
But that is now all set to change as Team USA will break with tradition and hand their players a cheque for $500,000 (£399,712) for making the team, starting with next year’s tournament at Bethpage Black in New York.
At the 2023 edition at Marco Simone in Rome, Italy, USA star Patrick Cantlay ruffled feathers by reportedly ditching his cap as a form of protest at not being compensated for playing in the competition.
Other players appeared to show solidarity with him by also removing their hats, which had Team USA’s Ryder Cup logo emblazoned on them.
Cantlay denied his decision to do so was anything to do with money – instead claiming it was because he didn’t want tan lines in his head prior to his wedding.
It’s understood that $300,000 of that will go to a player’s chosen charity with the remaining $200,000 going direct to the player (previously, $200,000 went to a charity of choice).
Team Europe heroes such as Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry have vehemently opposed to notion of paying players to play in the Ryder Cup.
Now Montgomerie, who was a stalwart of European Ryder Cup sides as a player and led the team to victory at Celtic Manor in 2010, has called out the PGA of America and says it now leaves a sour taste in his mouth.
He told SportsBoom: “What we’re talking about is the evil word, money. It can destroy a lot of things.
“And I think that golf has been has been part of that, and we are now talking about one team getting paid to play in the Ryder Cup.
“My God, I mean, I would have paid to play in it, to have the honour to play in the Ryder Cup, never mind wanting money to do so.
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“There’s something a little bit awry with players being paid to play. It leaves a sour taste.
“You can’t have a competition where one team’s being paid and the other isn’t.
“The funds could have been allocated towards grass-roots golf, ladies’ golf, junior golf, or golf in schools.
“That’s what I was hoping that money would go to as opposed to make the wealthy wealthier.”
Fellow Scot and former Team Europe captain Bernard Gallacher condemned the decision, describing it as simply WRONG.
He called on the PGA and Ryder Cup Europe to find a way to resolve the situation before the next dust up in September.
Gallacher said: “They need to find a way round that problem, because it is wrong.
“They get plenty at the moment, they are all well off.
“If things go wrong for the Americans in New York the spectators will turn against that team.
“They need to find a way round that problem. There is something special about playing for your country, there is something special about playing for the Tour.
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“It would be so wrong, they are putting the Ryder Cup in jeopardy by asking for this appearance money.
“I don’t think the American public will go for it. Surely they can turn out and play for America for three days?”.
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Montgomerie is one of the icons of the Ryder Cup for Team EuropeCredit: AFP
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Rory McIlroy is against the idea of being paid to play in the Ryder CupCredit: AFP
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