European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald has warned the US players they risk losing support from their own fans if they under-perform, especially since they are being paid to compete in the biennial event.
The PGA of America confirmed last December that all 12 members of Keegan Bradley’s team will receive $500,000 each.
Of that sum of money, $300,000 will go to charitable causes but the golfers are free to do whatever they want with the remainder of their “stipend”.
US captain Bradley has already pledged to give away every penny but it remains to be seen whether his team will follow suit.
Justin Thomas
The governing body that oversees the US arm of the Ryder Cup previously stressed that no player directly asked to be compensated.
Former PGA of America chief executive Seth Waugh previously confirmed to Golfweek that the players “didn’t really” ask for compensation.
But they “asked a lot of questions”.
Waugh said: “You know, [they asked] ‘Why are we growing the game on the back of me?’ kind of thing. Which I understand, but it’s on the back of everybody.
“But no, nobody ever specifically said I want to get paid. There are obviously implications of it.
“We’ve been talking for 25 years about being paid, and now it’ll be how much are we getting paid.”
Plenty took a dismal view of the position that no player asked for compensation.
Especially amid reports Patrick Cantlay was so annoyed that he wasn’t being paid to participate he decided not to wear a team cap at Marco Simone as a protest.
Cantlay has always strenuously denied this was the case.
Donald has warned the US team, though, that should Bradley’s red, white and blue not perform then they too could face the wrath of the New York crowd.
“We all know how high the ticket prices are, averaging out at around $750 each. So it’s going to be an expensive trip out for a family of four.
“If the US players are getting paid, and they aren’t performing, the New Yorkers could make them know about it.”
Europe’s strategic advisor, former captain Paul McGinley, told reporters last week at Wentworth it was obvious the money issue was bubbling under the surface when the matches were played in Rome.
Patrick Cantlay
McGinley said the US golfers were “greedy” for “rattling the money tree” despite the elite being paid gargantuan sums of money since LIV Golf entered the picture.
Donald sought the views of all the players involved in the Italian job at Marco Simone
The word back was a resounding “no”.
Reigning Masters champion Rory McIlroy declared he would pay for the privilege of competing in the Ryder Cup.
“That speaks to what the Ryder Cup means to these guys,” Donald added.
“A couple hundred thousand dollars to them isn’t a lot of money in the grand scheme of things.
“Those weeks of the Ryder Cup, they are the best weeks. There’s so much more to them.
“We certainly don’t need any motivation or monetary rewards to get us up.
“Their voices are important. Everyone was like, ‘we haven’t even considered playing for money for that event.
“‘We just don’t see that. We understand what it represents. We have a great purpose, and that’s really enough for us’.
“And we understand that the Ryder Cup profits go to help the European Tour Group, and the grass roots of golf.
“We talk a lot about this – we are here to inspire the next generation.
“I think our purpose, why we play the Ryder Cup, is pretty strong. And that’s enough for this week.”
The 2025 Ryder Cup gets underway next Friday.
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