OPINION: Ryder Cup is Pricing Out Many, And Gouging is the Reason

The Ryder Cup is set to start next Fall, and it will cost over $700 per day for fans and over $350 for volunteers to watch the United States take on the Europeans at Bethpage Black.

The PGA of America believes the Ryder Cup is on par with events like Game 7 of the NBA Finals and justified its pricing in a recent statement. But in a world where things are more expensive than ever, it feels like this is just the most recent example of price gouging.

Golf tournaments are relatively accessible to attend. Non-majors can cost as little as $300 for an entire week of entertainment from the practice rounds to the 72nd hole on Sunday.

PGA of America Defends Sky-High Ryder Cup Ticket Prices

Majors are certainly more pricey, and full-week packages for the upcoming PGA Championship at Quail Hollow are as low as $262 for the final day.

But this is still much less expensive than the Ryder Cup. Volunteer tickets are more than 100 percent more expensive than what a typical pass costs.

The definition of price gouging is:

"Price gouging is a pejorative term used to refer to the practice of increasing the prices of goods, services, or commodities to a level much higher than is considered reasonable or fair by some."

It feels like the PGA of America's decision to push this Ryder Cup's ticket prices up by a significant margin is exactly what price gouging is defined as.

In 2021, when the Ryder Cup was played at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin, single-day prices were $185 before taxes and fees. This is a far cry from the $700+ for the 2025 edition.

It feels like this Ryder Cup, in terms of patronage or volunteering, is nothing short of price gauging

— Joey Klender (@KlenderJoey) October 21, 2024

It should be priced at a premium, and I don't think anyone would argue that. The Ryder Cup, in some ways, is truly the pinnacle of professional golf. We see emotion and camaraderie unlike anything other than the President's Cup, which is relatively tame compared to the Ryder Cup. From a personal perspective, the only event I'd rather go to than the Ryder Cup is The Masters.

However, is there a reason to push prices to a point where many fans are just going to choose to stay home and watch it on TV? Why is a price that is still a premium but more reasonable being considered? This is truly a drop of the ball by the PGA of America.

Cover Image via Ryder Cup