Will the U.S. Ryder Cup Team Be Shamed Into Not Taking Pay for 2025 Event?

Ever since the news came out that the U.S. Ryder Cup team would be paid a total of $5 million (to be split among the 12 players to the tune of $400,000 each) to participate in the 2025 event at Bethpage Black in New York, the backlash has been fierce at several different levels.

First, Rory McIlroy commented that his team would not be paid, and in fact, he would “pay for the privilege” to play for the European team. 

Irishman Shane Lowry echoed McIlroy’s comments, telling the Irish Independent, “I love the tournament, and I just want to be involved. I don’t care whether I get paid or not. We don’t need more motivation to go next year and win.”

NBC and Golf Channel commentator Brandel Chamblee weighed in on X and sided with McIlroy and Lowry’s viewpoints.

Once again Rory hits the nail on the head. It’s a sad commentary on the professional game that a few players with misdirected and undo power treat every aspect of this game, including the privilege of playing for one’s country, as transactional. They are the reason the very… https://t.co/nV9DcY7Ulu

— Brandel Chamblee (@chambleebrandel) November 15, 2024

“It’s a sad commentary on the professional game that a few players with misdirected and undo power treat every aspect of this game, including the privilege of playing for one’s country, as transactional.”

LPGA legend Laura Davies also called the pay “disgraceful,” adding that if a player makes the Ryder Cup team, they’re already making tons of money. 

The PGA of America, which is operating the next Ryder Cup since it’s taking place in the U.S., also took heat for the price of tickets, which are four times as expensive as they were for the 2021 event at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin.

So the question remains: Will the U.S. team read the tea leaves and go back on the plan to take a paycheck? After all, what’s $400,000 among friends?

Cover Image via Reuters