Wearing a white cap branded with USA, Patrick Cantlay’s tune has not changed, with the American righteous with indignation about his starring role in the infamous ‘Hat Gate’ scandal that resulted in a raucous Ryder Cup in Rome.
If that hat didn’t fit, you have to acquit, according to Cantlay, or something along those lines, when it comes to the aspersions on his character stemming from the infamous Cup two years ago.
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The PGA Tour’s player of the year in 2020/21, the 33-year-old sparked a storm in Italy in 2023 by not wearing the US team hat, with allegations the action was a protest about not being paid for appearing in an event that makes big, big bucks.
This prompted European fans to get stuck into the American as part of the theatre of the event, with thousands waving caps in his direction, which in turn fired up Cantlay’s caddie Joe LeCava, who had a crack back at them.
Enter Rory “Rocky” McIlroy, who did not appreciate LeCava’s response and… well, every golf fan has seen video footage of the aftermath to a furore that spilt over into a car park.
Not surprisingly, ‘Hat Gate’ has been a hot topic of discussion leading into the Ryder Cup beginning on Friday at Bethpage Black on Long Island for a number of reasons.
The Ryder Cup is indisputably big business, with an astonishing amount of greenbacks changing hands between sponsors, broadcasters, fans and other divergent interests.
And, for the first time, the Americans are getting a stipend of almost A$756,000 dollars to represent their nation in a tournament where the honour of selection was once enough.
For the Europeans, that remains the case.
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United States’ Patrick Cantlay speaks during a news conference before a practice round at the Ryder Cup golf tournament, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025, in Farmingdale, N.Y., at Bethpage State Park’s Black Course. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)Source: AP
Was the move made in response to the Cantlay furore from two years ago? As the spin goes, about A$400,000 from that figure is to go towards a charity, with the remainder to be used with discretion.
The Europeans have watched with interest and most of the American team, mindful of the optics, have pointed out that they were donating the entirety of their cut to charity.
But not surprisingly, the former FedEx Cup champion Cantlay was quizzed about the hot topic in Farmingdale on Tuesday on a day most of his teammates fronted the international press.
“Like I’ve said a million times, the hat didn’t fit last year (2023) and this year we worked with them to make sure we had one, and we got one, so we’re good,” he said.
Cantlay was pressed further on the issue and said he preferred to look at the introduction of a payment through an, ahem, charitable lens.
“I mean, you guys keep talking about it and trying to make it this negative thing. It’s whatever everyone views it as,” Cantlay said.
“I don’t think I’d be sitting up on this stage if I didn’t have a positive attitude, and I try to look at this in the most positive of lights as possible: An opportunity to do some good, which isn’t always the case.
“Again, selfishly, if we’re able to impact some of the local communities and charities here, I think that’s what should happen.”
Renowned golf writer Neil McLeman, who writes for The Daily Mirror in the United Kingdom, said it would be fascinating to see how the fans respond to the fact US players are getting paid.
“One of the x-factors involved is whether the crowd will turn on the Americans, because the New York crowd like to see winners,” he told foxsports.com.au.
“It is an interesting fact that, for the first time ever, the American players are going to be paid. They always used to give a donation to charity, but this year, they’re going to get an additional (A$360,000) stipend, which could actually increase the pressure on them.”
SANDS POINT, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 23: Captain Luke Donald of Team Europe and wife Diane Donald pose for a photograph during the Ryder Cup Teams’ Welcome Dinner prior to the Ryder Cup 2025 at Hempstead House on September 23, 2025 in Sands Point, New York. Andrew Redington/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Andrew Redington / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)Source: AFP
European captain Luke Donald said he discussed the issue of payment with the team when in Rome and said there was universal disdain at the concept that they should be paid.
“Everyone (said) ‘This is not a week to get paid.’” he told Sky Sports.
“We have such a strong purpose in this team with what we play for and, to be honest, we reinvest some of that money back into the experience for these guys.
“If you have those experiences that you remember for the rest of your life, that is worth more than a couple of hundred thousand dollars in the back of your pocket.
“For me, I was very proud of the guys. I think with the ideals of how this Ryder Cup was set up back in the 1920s by Samuel Ryder, I think he would have been proud too.”
His American counterpart Keegan Bradley said that he did not particularly care what the Europeans thought of the move when stressing the USA was raising valuable money for charities.
“I’m not concerned about what Europe does or what they think. I’m concerned about what my team is doing,” he said.
“I was tasked with a job the PGA of America asked me to do, and this was what we decided. We wanted to bring the Ryder Cup into today’s age, and we felt like this was the best way to do it. We copied a lot of what the Presidents Cup does.
“We did the best we could, and I think a lot of good is going to come from this. I think the players are going to do a lot of good with this money, and I think it’s great.”
A BOOMING BUSINESS
Big, bristling Bryson DeChambeau was dazzling folks who attended the opening day of practice on Tuesday with his booming drives at Bethpage Black.
The LIV Golf star is no stranger to mixing business with pleasure while raking in the big bucks, with his investment in a YouTube channel among an array of diverse interests.
But the wealth surrounding the Ryder Cup, with a large portfolio of premier sponsors and broadcast deals that many sports can only dream of, does make the ‘Hat Gate’ scandal seem like a war of words over loose change.
The Rome Ryder Cup was found to have delivered A$470 million in terms of economic activity in Italy, with more than 271,000 people from over 100 countries attending the Europeans triumph over the Americans at the Marco Simone Golf Club.
This was an uptick of 11 per cent on the previous Ryder Cup held in Europe in 2018 in France, prompting European Tour Group CEO Guy Kinnings to laud the growing legacy of the event. Money talks all languages, after all.
“The figures highlighted in this independent economic impact report demonstrate the major benefits that Ryder Cup delivers for a host country through spectator and visitor spending, as well as an enduring legacy,” he said.
FARMINGDALE, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 23: Captain Luke Donald of Team Europe talks with Justin Rose of Team Europe prior to the Ryder Cup 2025 at Black Course at Bethpage State Park Golf Course on September 23, 2025 in Farmingdale, New York. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
A shift in thinking a decade ago from targeting local sponsors closer to the locale of the Ryder Cup to the long-lasting global partners has led to a massive windfall.
The top tiers of sponsors clamour to spend the annual GDP of a small country to be associated with the Ryder Cup. Or, at least, the equivalent of a purse to the winner of a major.
And they are global brands, with BMW, Hilton, Rolex, Aon, Capgemini, DP World and Citi sticking fat along with a newcomer for this year in SAP estimated to be paying between $10-16 million to have their logos splashed across the Ryder Cup.
This does not include another 30-odd secondary tier sponsors either, among them Titleist and Moet and Chandon. Expect champagne corks to be popping across the course if this Ryder Cup turns out to be a thriller with a local triumph.
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Industry website sportbusiness.com reported sponsorship income jumped 153 per cent from the 2019 Ryder Cup through to the most recent edition in Rome, with further rises certain in 2025.
Broadcast rights are a big earner. American network NBC reportedly pays more than A$80 million for the rights to the events every two years after signing a deal to show 15 editions.
It is big business in Europe as well and given its prestige and the interest in the competition among local fans, the Ryder Cup is a natural fit for Foxtel and Kayo Sports in the Australian market.
Then there are the ticket prices. Anyone who has been to New York recently will know you are digging deeper than normal for comfort to kick start a day watching the world’s best.
Sourcing a latte fit for Aussie tastes will set you back about A$12 in cafes such as Little Collins near Grand Central, the Australian-owned Bluestone Lane cafes or locales such as Eighth Street Espresso. And as to Starbucks? Why bother when there are other good options?
Those watching DeChambeau boom drives on Tuesday paid about A$385 for the privilege, with gate tickets (which include food and drink) priced at A$1130 for Friday onwards.
Yet 300,000 fans are expected to brave the Long Island Rail Road and the traffic on the LI Expressway out of Manhattan, or transit it from the surrounding towns in the region, for the event.
Did we mention that US President Donald Trump will be in attendance on Friday?
Given the security kerfuffle that unfolded at the recent US Open tennis in Flushing Meadows, the security requirements will add to the discomfort for fans who have paid big bucks.
Even the volunteers are being squeezed for the privilege of identifying wayward drives, if they are lucky, or more likely directing fans on the best way to get from one hole to the next.
Remarkably, they will pay more than $500 for the honour, which does give them a uniform, backpack, pin and food during shifts, a cost the US PGA has attributed in part to the cost of doing business in the New York region.
Cantlay, sadly, was not asked about his thoughts on that side of the golf divide, but it is worth noting there were reportedly 30,000 people willing to pay for the privilege.
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THE POST-COVID BOOM
European captain Luke Donald is readying his 12-strong team for a defence of the Ryder Cup, which will be a test against the Scottie Scheffler-led Stars and Stripes. That focus aside, he is buoyed by the interest in the Ryder Cup and golf more generally.
“It’s unique in the fact that people from different levels can play together and play for fun and have a match and spend time away from the hustle and bustle of modern-day life, get away, be off your phone, just chum it up with your friends and spend some time,” he said.
“If someone is a 2-handicapper and someone is a 28-handicapper, they can still have a good game. You can’t do that very often in other sports.
“Obviously it seemed to boom through the COVID period. It was a sport you could be outside and not be too close to each other. I think a lot of people fell in love with it because of that. It was a great distraction in a strange time for us.
“It’s just nice to see the game booming. It’s obviously a game that’s very well-supported by the corporate world as well. They can do great entertainment. People love the fact that, again, amateurs or corporate people can play with the professionals and be there. You can’t really do that on an NBA court or NFL pitch or a soccer pitch. It just doesn’t work. But, with golf, you can.”
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FARMINGDALE, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 23: Rory McIlroy of Team Europe lifts a rope for teammates and caddies after a team photo prior to the Ryder Cup 2025 at Black Course at Bethpage State Park Golf Course on September 23, 2025 in Farmingdale, New York. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Stuart Fraser, who is covering the Ryder Cup for The Times newspaper, told foxsports.com.au demand was clearly a driving factor in the increase in several areas.
“I’ve heard a lot over here, several locals, referring to it as the Super Bowl of golf. And it really is,” he said.
“The event has grown to such a scale that, listen, it’s not going to quite match the Super Bowl for international viewing figures and revenue and whatever else, but in golf terms … you have The Masters and The Open, which are two of the most historical traditional tournaments in the circuit, but the Ryder Cup really has the x-factor in terms of the entertainment it offers.
“Especially in today’s world with social media and whatever else, the clips can quickly go viral and the inside access you can get behind the scenes with camera footage and stuff like that, and that team element, it just all makes for something quite special.”
FARMINGDALE, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 23: Tommy Fleetwood of Team Europe signs autographs for fans prior to the Ryder Cup 2025 at Black Course at Bethpage State Park Golf Course on September 23, 2025 in Farmingdale, New York. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
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