PGA of America Defends Sky-High Ryder Cup Ticket Prices

One day after widespread outrage over the cost of tickets for the 2025 Ryder Cup tore through social media, the PGA of America set out to explain the approximately 400% jump in prices compared to the last Ryder Cup held in the United States.

In this article from Wednesday, we compared the cost of the upcoming Ryder Cup with those of the four majors. Additionally, the 2021 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin saw prices start at $185 before taxes and fees. For 2025 at Bethpage Black, the cost to see a day of competition is $749, but there is some food and nonalcoholic beverages included in that price.

PGA of America Championship Director Bryan Karns defended the prices in an interview with SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio.

“We view ourselves as a Tier 1 event that’s on par with a World Series, or with an NBA Finals Game 7.”

“Our position in this landscape—where do we view ourselves? I think that’s the reality. There are people who have the Ryder Cup on their bucket list in the same way that someone would have a Yankees opening game World Series on their bucket list. Ultimately, we felt like that’s where we are. The demand is at an all-time high for this event, so we wanted to make sure we priced it appropriately.”

The explanation didn’t seem to curb the criticism.

Late on this, but $750 for a GA ticket to the Ryder Cup is a *joke.* Family of 4 would be $3000! Bethpage is the people’s country club and a massive place—this just comes off as a money grab. Still plenty of time to fix it. Let’s hope the PGA of America will.

— Dan Rapaport (@Daniel_Rapaport) October 16, 2024

This editorial from the New York Times suggests that the passionate fans that the U.S. team is looking to for a competitive edge will be absent from Bethpage Black.

I would like to go on the record now and say that if Europe wins the Ryder Cup at Bethpage because the crowds were turned into a polite snooze fest like LACC by the insane ticket prices, it’s going to go down as a massive own goal. pic.twitter.com/wnAOP72lqA

— Kevin Van Valkenburg (@KVanValkenburg) October 14, 2024

In the end, it’s likely that economics will win out. If all of the tickets sell, then it was fairly priced. If we see discounts, then we’ll know they were overpriced.

Cover Image via Ryder Cup