Luke Donald gets Dig Cheeky in US Ryder Players in Speaking

Wednesday at 2025 Ryder Cupfans in Bethpage Black testified one rare thing: the opening ceremony, the day before. Predicted storm Organizers forced to move the celebrations From their traditional country on Thursday, on the eve of the first matches, until Wednesday.

Changing the schedule would also say that the announcement of Friday players’ pairs and matches was not included in the procedure, as is usually. But another tradition was broken. Amid his opening ceremony speech on Wednesday, European Luke Donald received some delicate excavations for US players.

And his comments did not come to a vacuum. They attended a campaign that Donald and the European team have approved To try and shake the US Ryder Cup team over money. More specifically, the fact that American players are being paid this year, and European benefits are not.

Here’s what you need to know.

Ryder Cup Pay Pay Pay controversy from 2023-2025

The origin of Ryder Cup’s money controversy dates from The largest controversy from the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome.

There, a European journalist reported that American player Patrick Cantlay refused to wear a US team hat in protest not to pay to play Ryder Cup. The allegations also affected other American players, though Cantlay strongly denied them.

The controversy, known as Hatgate, stretched on the course, where fans mocked Cantlay and the American team in Rome, and Cantlay responded by shaking an imaginary hat after making strokes or winning holes.

Things became serious in a Saturday match featuring Cantlay and Rory Mcilroy, where Caddy Joe Lacava shakes his hat in Green near Mcilroy, resulting in a screaming match between the teams.

Clash poured into press conferences and in the parking lot.

Then at the end of last year, when the US PGA announced the US Ryder Players would receive $ 300,000 For the benefactors of their choice plus a $ 200,000 stipend to use, however they want, European players jumped on it. Rory Mcilroy and Shane Lowry made comments on the topic soon after that, with Mcilroy saying he would do “Pay for the privilege to play” Ryder cup.

Donald has kept the topic alive all year long in various interviews. This week has not been different.

For example, in a Monday interview with Sky Sports, Donald Brought the topic again as if for the first time.

“That came out and I wanted to get ahead. I talked to the 12 boys in Rome when it looked like SH.BA would do something different with payments and, you know, each of them was like,” we don’t want – it’s not a week to pay, “Donald said.

Then came his speech of the opening ceremony.

Donald shadows on American Ryder Cup Pro at the opening ceremony

Traditionally, the speeches of the captains at the Ryder Cup opening ceremony have to do with the sport, thanks and a little of the team’s growth.

Donald’s speech certainly hit at all those points. In no way was a wide thing against the American team.

Get his good words for us Captain Keegan Bradley, for example.

“For Keegan, Jillian and your two sons, Logan and Cooper, Diane and I have really appreciated our friendship over the years, and we know that Bond will last beyond this week no matter the result. It has been a pleasure to share this Cup Ryder with you. Thank you for your friendship and all memories along the way.”

Or these comments about the US team.

“For the 12 players of Team USA, your talent and passion are never in doubt. We know you will bring your best. We promise to do the same.”

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But Donald’s speech also presented excavations with thin wines in American players on the issue of money.

“We have come to you this week not only as individual players from nine different nations, but as a team, a team set by history, by unity and the belief that we are playing for something much larger than ourselves,” Donald began, throwing the seeds for his easy players. “Ryder cup means so much to each of us. It’s different from everything else in our sport.”

When he brought the topic of money for the first time, he did so by arguing that European Ryder Cup players are very noble to play Ryder Cup for money.

“It’s not about price money or world ranking points,” Donald said. “It’s about pride. It’s about representing your flag, your shirts and heritage you leave behind.”

He then continued to list the things his European team plays for another than money.

“We play for our families, our teammates, our countries, our continent, and for the generations before us who made this event what it is today.”

The question that many American fans, and perhaps players, were making themselves at this point of speech was this: is he suggesting that the US Ryder Ryder Cup players not Play for their families, place and flag, but play for money only?

Donald gave that answer when, later in his speech, he brought the player’s pay topic BACK.

“We are fueled by something that money cannot buy: the goal, brotherhood and responsibility to honor those who came before us, while inspiring them whose time will still come,” Donald said.

It is important to note that some former European Ryder Cup consciously threatened their future involvement in this case by receiving large sums of money to join Liv Golf, among them Ian PoulterLee Westwood and Sergio Garcia. In fact, the original captain for the European team of the 2023 Ryder Cup was Henrik Stenson but Stenson was removed from the position After joining Livi himself. Donald was his replacement.

Moreover, American players Stipend $ 300,000 will receive this year, which some have already said they will give charity, is a lot of trivial compared to the many millions that each player won this season.

At this point, Captain Donald and Europe’s strategy to paint American Ryder Cup players as care only of money and not profit is clear. What is not clear is why they think this is a sound strategy.

Whether it’s Ryder Cup or a series of play off in other professional sports, teams ‘regularly attract inspiration from opponents’ criticism. Usually, the goal is not to provide the other team with any “bulletin material” that can turn on them.

We will have to wait to see which team ends up taking advantage of Ryder Cup payer’s controversy when the first matches could go out on Friday morning.