Ryder Cup amplified by complicated (and polarizing) compensation problem

As stories swirl that U.S. gamers may very well be paid to take part in future Ryder Cups, European stalwarts are doubling down on the purity of the occasion.

“I personally would pay for the privilege to play within the Ryder Cup,” Rory McIlroy advised the Irish Golfer whereas on the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai on Thursday. “I’ve come a great distance on this particularly with the Olympics, however the two purist types of competitors in our recreation proper now are the Ryder Cup and Olympics, partly due to the purity of no cash being concerned.”

McIlroy’s feedback had been echoed by European teammate Shane Lowry, who can be in Dubai this week.

“I don’t actually care whether or not I [get paid] or not, to be sincere,” Lowry advised reporters. “You recognize, the Ryder Cup is a privilege, and it’s what I work for.”

Compensation questions had been fired off at European Ryder Cup mainstays a day after The Telegraph’s James Corrigan reported the PGA of America is contemplating proposals and nearing a construction that may pay U.S. gamers instantly for the primary time within the occasion’s almost 100-year historical past. In response to Corrigan, the proposal requires every U.S. participant to obtain $400,000 for taking part in within the Ryder Cup.

The PGA of America declined touch upon the story and likewise declined remark when reached by GOLF.com.

There’s presently no plan, nonetheless, for European gamers to be paid.

Whereas just a few professionals have broached the concept of Ryder Cup compensation through the years, it’s made little waves. The thought took a bigger step final yr in Rome, when a report surfaced that Patrick Cantlay was protesting not getting paid by refusing to put on a hat. Cantlay denied the report, nevertheless it began the dialog regardless. (Stefan Schauffele, the daddy of Xander Schauffele, was extra direct together with his opinions.)

At this yr’s Presidents Cup, Golfweek’s Adam Schupak reported that gamers had been not required to make a charitable donation with the $250,000 stipend they obtained and that the determine is anticipated to rise for the Ryder Cup and likewise be a stipend to do with what they please.

McIlroy mentioned paying golfers on the Ryder Cup would give the occasion “a special really feel,” including the monetary factor may alter the cohesiveness of the crew.

“I don’t suppose any of the 24 gamers on both crew wants the $400,000,” he mentioned Thursday. “Each two years we play there’s 104 weeks and for 103 you possibly can play golf and might receives a commission in order that’s cheap sufficient. It received’t change something on our facet.”

McIlroy, particularly, has come full circle on the Ryder Cup. In 2009 he mentioned it’s “not an enormous purpose of mine,” including, “it’s an exhibition on the finish of the day. … Within the large scheme of issues it’s not that essential an occasion for me. Clearly I’ll strive my finest for the crew — however I’m not going to go working round fist-pumping.”

Greater than a decade later, he fought again tears in an interview seconds after he beat Schauffele in singles to file his solely level of the week in what turned out to be an American rout at Whistling Straits in 2021.

“I’m extremely proud to be part of this crew,” McIlroy advised NBC. “To be a teammate in any respect. All these guys, captains, vice captains. We’ve had a good time. It seems prefer it’s not going to pan out the way in which we wished within the golf course. It’s been a tricky week, however the an increasing number of I play on this occasion, I understand that it’s the very best occasion in golf, bar-none.”

Whereas the pay-for-play discuss has dominated the previous yr of the Ryder Cup dialog, Bethpage ticket costs for the 2025 iteration have additionally induced a stir. Tickets had been solely accessible by way of a lottery, with costs starting at $255 for follow rounds and $749 for competitors days. Charges have additionally been excessive, and people costs have skyrocketed much more on the secondary markets.

The PGA of America mentioned on Wednesday that tickets for the three match days have already bought out as a result of “huge” demand and greater than half 1,000,000 folks registering for tickets by way of the lottery.

“If the PGA of America are in search of extra money out of the Ryder Cup or the gamers are beginning to be paid it finally comes from the folks paying to observe the occasion, so it’s a double-edged sword,” McIlroy mentioned. “The European consensus is we don’t need something to vary what we’ve over right here so we most likely received’t be getting paid for Bethpage, which is completely positive.”

Luke Donald will captain Europe for a second straight Ryder Cup, and he mentioned final yr he wasn’t considering gamers needing to be paid.

“It’s one week the place you play for greater than your self, not about cash or factors, it’s about coming collectively as a crew and the followers feed off that — it’s all ardour,” he mentioned. “I don’t suppose we must always ever receives a commission.”

If any of those reported adjustments are to happen, paying one squad and never the opposite will add an unorthodox but fascinating Ryder Cup wrinkle. And with each international locations being run by totally different organizations, that’s definitely a risk.

Come September 2025, Europe will attempt to win the primary highway Ryder Cup because it received at Medinah in 2012. And it definitely would style a bit sweeter doing it professional bono.

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