The moment it was announced that Team US would receive money for playing in the Ryder Cup, an undercurrent of unease arose between the two countries on either side of the Atlantic. The Ryder Cup has always been about nation and pride, but the US’s stance for more than two decades has somehow faltered towards a personal payment. Whether they are right or wrong to demand so is subjective, but one can’t deny that it has, somewhere or other, sown cracks in the spirit of the biggest showdown in Golf. Now that team Europe is finally in New York, with a few days remaining for the battle at Bethpage, Captain Luke Donald made his stance quite clear.
Donald, speaking to Sky Sports, pointed out that money is not part of his team’s motivation. “I wanted to get ahead of it and…talk to the 12 guys in Rome…when it looked like the U.S. was going to do something different with payments. And…every one of them was just like, ‘No, we don’t want to [get] pay. Yeah, this isn’t a week to get paid.’ We have such a strong purpose in this team, what we play for.”
Continuing on his stance, Donald added, “To be honest, we reinvest some of that money back into the experience of these guys. And I feel like if you have those experiences that you remember for the rest of your life, that’s worth more than a couple hundred thousand dollars in the back of your pocket.”
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For Bethpage, each American player, including captain Keegan Bradley, will get $500,000. Of that, $300,000 will be earmarked for charity while the rest will be for the player’s personal use. It is a step up from the previous arrangement, which only had a charitable element.
The 2023 Ryder Cup was sort of like a catalyst for this entire decision that Donald mentions here.
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At Marco Simone Golf Club, Patrick Cantlay was seen without wearing a hat during one of his rounds, which, as per certain reports, was a protest against the no-pay system. Although he denied those allegations later, his antics led to one of the biggest controversies in the history of the event, culminating in a brawl between Rory McIlory and Cantlay’s caddy Joe LaCava. And he was not the only person displeased with no personal payouts.
Xander Schauffele and his dad also reportedly expressed their opinion on why a player should be paid — a rumor they too denied.
Both these players will be teeing up again for the Ryder Cup this year at Bethpage, now that the system for them has changed.
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Talking about the funds for Team Europe, most of them are reportedly reinvested in the European Tour Group’s operations and financial stability, and various grassroots golf development initiatives, which are meant for nurturing future Ryder Cup players. The Ryder Cup European Development Trust is one such initiative.
McIlroy, too, has shared similar sentiments in the past when he said he would “pay for the privilege” of representing Europe.
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Donlad’s clarity stands in stark contrast to what is happening on the US side. Keegan Bradley, in his press conference a few hours ago, openly took a stand for his players. Although he shared that he is going to donate his full cut, he won’t be pressuring his team into doing so. “It’s a personal decision,” he said, brushing aside the optics.
“I am not concerned about what Europe does or what they think. I’m concerned about what my team is doing.” That’s pretty much how his stand has been ever since the last couple of months, focused on his team, rather than what the other side is saying.
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This tug-of-war over the Ryder Cup money is not new.
It all dates back to 1999, when Tiger Woods, David Duval, Mark O’Meara, and Phil Mickelson questioned why players were not entitled to a share of the reported $23 million net profit, especially given the slew of corporate obligations. Woods had said at the time that, “With all the money that’s being made, I think we should have a say in where it goes.” When it was finally announced that players would, from the 2025 Ryder Cup, receive the payout, Woods welcomed the movement and said it was “headed in the right direction.” Two-time Ryder Cup captain Tom Watson, on the other hand, was strictly against the move.
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It is clear how the money debate is creating a culture divide, something fans hope can leave its mark on Bethpage’s course. In fact, Luke Donald has warned Keegan Bradley and co. as to how their payment plan could carry consequences on their home turf.
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Luke Donald warns US crowd could turn on home team
Luke Donald has turned the focus toward the New York galleries, warning that the US team’s payout might come back to bite them at Bethpage Black. With ticket prices starting at $750 per day, he suggested fans could be unforgiving if Bradley’s men fail to deliver while pocketing hefty stipends.
“It’s going to be an expensive trip out for a family of four. If the US players are getting paid a stipend, or whatever it is, and they aren’t performing, the New Yorkers could make them know about it.” In Donald’s eyes, what looks like a financial perk could quickly become a burden under the glare of an impatient and notorious crowd.
Traditionally, European players have braced themselves for hostility in American venues. The last time they won on US soil was in 2012, which came to be known as the ‘Miracle of Medinah’ owing to the venue, Medinah Country Club in Illinois. The away team, since then, has been looking to replicate this and to defend their title (Donald was captain back then, too). Rory McIlroy recently revealed that the team has been practicing using VR headsets to get accustomed to the New York crowd, who are known for their brutal nature.