American players react to Patrick Cantlay’s putt during the 2023 Ryder Cup.
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After one report that the American Ryder Cuppers would receive an increased payment for their services at the Ryder Cup – and the month of anxiety that followed – the PGA of America has finally spoken out: It is true.
The governing body and part owner of the Ryder Cup announced on Monday that the amount awarded to each American player (as well as captain Keegan Bradley) will increase from the previous level. While each player previously received $200,000 to give to charity, they will now receive up to $500,000 in total – $300,000 of which will go to charity. The remaining $200,000 will be a salary that each player can do with as they please. Players have played in the Cup for decades without direct payment, but now that has changed.
“Players and captains, past and present, are responsible for making the Ryder Cup the most special competition in golf and one of the most sought-after events on the international sporting stage,” the PGA said in a statement. He also stated that no players asked to be compensated, but reminded viewers that the figure had remained unchanged since it was introduced in 1999.
The past month has seen the topic inspire high emotions from both sides of the Ryder Cup row. It mainly started on November 13, when Telegraph the American reported players will likely receive a salary of $400,000 to do as they please. The PGA declined to comment on that report, but the European team did not hold back.
A strong number of Team Europe – Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood, Shane Lowry – were playing in the Middle East on the DP World Tour when the report dropped, speaking separately but similarly. The message: We love the Ryder Cup so much, we would i pay to play in it. Tiger Woods offered a very literal response, saying: “If the Europeans want to pay to play in the Ryder Cup, that’s their decision.”
Woods also added – during a press conference two weeks ago – that players have been asking for more funds to be given to charity for years. Woods blamed the media to make it look like the players wanted to be paid themselves, eventually saying he hoped the charitable gifts would reach seven figures per player.
And while the charity’s funds will increase by 50%, the real ringer is the salary. In the past, many players have suggested that even if the funds are not required to go to charity, players are likely to donate the money regardless. Captain Bradley confirmed to the Associated Press that all of his $500,000 will go to charity.
It’s made December a surprisingly interesting Ryder Cup month, while we’re still nine months away from finalizing the teams for Bethpage Black. Discourse about compensation has escalated on both sides of the Atlantic, an issue Bradley admitted he was “shocked” to see leaked. Just last week, Sports Illustrated reported that a dozen former American captains wrote a letter to the PGA of America, condemning the idea of any money going directly to the players.
