The Ryder Cup is fueled by the complex (and polarizing) issue of compensation

As reports swirl that American players could be paid to take part in future Ryder Cups, European powers are doubling down on the purity of the event.

“I would personally pay for the privilege of playing in the Ryder Cup,” said Rory McIlroy. Irish golfer while at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai on Thursday. “I’ve come a long way in this, especially with the Olympics, but the two purist forms of competition in our game now are the Ryder Cup and the Olympics, partly because of the sheer lack of money.”

McIlroy’s comments were echoed by fellow European player Shane Lowry, who is also in Dubai this week.

“I don’t really care if (I get paid) or not, to be honest.” Lowry told reporters. “You know, the Ryder Cup is a privilege and that’s what I work for.”

Questions about compensation were thrown into the headlines of the European Ryder Cup the following day Of the Telegraph James Corrigan reported The PGA of America is reviewing proposals and moving closer to a structure that would pay American players directly for the first time in the event’s nearly 100-year history. According to Corrigan, the proposal calls for each American player to receive $400,000 to play in the Ryder Cup.

The PGA of America declined comment on the story and also declined comment when reached by GOLF.com.

However, there are currently no plans for European players to be paid.

While some pros have broached the idea of ​​Ryder Cup compensation over the years, it has made little waves. The idea took a big step last year in Rome, when a report appeared about it Patrick Cantlay was protesting not being paid by refusing to wear a hat. Cantlay denied the report, but the conversation started regardless. (Stefan Schauffele, Xander Schauffele’s father, was more direct with his thoughts.)

In this year’s Presidents Cup, Golfweek’s Adam Schupak reported that the players were no longer required to make a charitable donation with the $250,000 salary they received and that the figure is expected to increase for the Ryder Cup and also be a salary to do what they want.

McIlroy said paying players at the Ryder Cup would give the event “a different feel”, adding that the financial element could change the cohesiveness of the team.

“I don’t think any of the 24 players on any team needs $400,000,” he said Thursday. “Every two years we play is 104 weeks and for 103 you can play golf and get paid, so that’s pretty reasonable. It won’t change anything from our side.”

McIlroy, in particular, has come full circle at the Ryder Cup. In 2009 he said “it’s not a big goal of mine”, adding, “it’s an exhibition at the end of the day. … In the grand scheme of things, it’s not that important an event for me. Of course I will to do my best for the team – but I’m not going to run around fist-pumping.”

More than a decade later, he fought back tears in an interview seconds after beating Schauffele in the singles to record his only point of the week in what turned out to be an American clash at Whistling Straits in 2021.

“I’m extremely proud to be a part of this team,” McIlroy told NBC. “Being a teammate at all. All these guys, captain, vice-captain. We had a great time. Looks like it’s not going to turn out the way we wanted it to on the golf course. It’s been a tough week, but the more I play in this event, I realize it’s the best event in golf, bar none.”

While pay-to-play talk has dominated the Ryder Cup conversation for the past year, Bethpage ticket prices for the 2025 repeat have also caused a stir. Tickets were only available through a lottery, with prices starting at $255 for practice rounds and $749 for competition days. Fees have also been high, and those prices have risen even more in secondary markets.

The PGA of America said Wednesday that tickets for the three days of the tournament have already sold out due to “overwhelming” demand and more than half a million people registering for tickets through the lottery.

“Whether the PGA of America is asking for more money from the Ryder Cup or the players are starting to get paid, ultimately it comes down to people paying to see the event, so it’s a double-edged sword,” McIlroy said. “The European consensus is that we don’t want anything to change what we have here, so we probably won’t get paid for Bethpage, which is perfectly fine.”

Luke Donald will captain Europe for a second successive Ryder Cup, and he said last year he was not interested in players being paid.

“It’s a week where you play for more than yourself, not for money or points, it’s about coming together as a team and the fans feed off that – it’s all passion,” he said. “I don’t think we should ever get paid.”

If any of these reported changes come to pass, paying one team and not the other will add an unorthodox but fascinating wrinkle to the Ryder Cup. And with both countries being run by different organizations, that’s certainly a possibility.

In September 2025, Europe will attempt to win its first Ryder Cup on the road since winning at Medinah in 2012. And it would certainly be a little sweeter doing it pro bono.

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