Xander Schauffele talks about Team USA players in 2025 Ryder Cup will receive “a load of crap” despite every American golfer donating all the money they receive for entering the contest to charity.
It was officially confirmed on 16 December 2024 that each member representing the Red, White and Blue in September in Bethpage Black, a suburb of New York, would receive $500,000 (£400,000) each.
Of this sum of money, $300,000 (£240,000) will be donated to charity while players will be free to do whatever they wish with the remaining ‘salary’.
Schauffele said Golf Channel on the eve of The Sentinel in Hawaii that every penny will be donated to charity.
Xander Schauffele
“I just see a lot of money going to charity and we’re going to put up with a lot of crap,” Schauffele told the publication.
US captain Keegan Bradley was quick to point out that he – and every player – planned to donate all the money to charity ahead of a Telegraph Sport exclusive on the subject.
Bradley too already stressed that the decision was made strictly by the PGA of America, without player input.
Schauffele said discussions on the topic would only make the 2025 games more intense and compelling.
“The way it’s all moving is good for this great rivalry,” the two-time major winner said.
“And it’s going to be better for the Ryder Cup.
“When there is a quarrel, what happens? It shakes up everything around.
“The Ryder Cup is going to get better because of this thing.
“We’re used to competing in these team events, not getting paid and happily dishing out our share.
“It’s a really nice thing that we can do. We make a lot of money throughout the year, so we’re happy to donate money when we can.”
Patrick Cantlay
The issue of pay-to-play first emerged in 1999 and was raised again in September 2023 when Jamie Weir of Sky Sports reported that Patrick Cantlay was not wearing a team cap in protest at non-payment.
Weir said Cantlay and Schauffele led a split in the locker room over the issue.
Both players denied this was the case.
However, Schauffele’s father Stefan confirmed 24 hours after the European team’s victory in Italy that his son was involved in a contract dispute with the PGA of America which at one point threatened his place on the team.
In Brookline in 1999, people like Tiger woodMark O’Meara and David Duval questioned where the revenue was going without player input.
O’Meara recently told SI’s Bob Harig that his view ultimately cost him the captaincy when the Ryder Cup was held at the K Club in Ireland.
Speaking before the Hero World Challenge last December, Woods blamed the media for reporting the story at the time.
Tiger wood
“We wanted to give more money to charity, (but) the media turned on us and said we wanted to get paid,” he said.
“The Ryder Cup brings in so much money, why can’t we allocate it to various charities?
The woodswho turned 49 last month, suggested that each American player receive $5 million each on the condition that the money be spent entirely on charity.
Several high-level European golfers have spoken at length on the subject in recent weeks.
Rory McIlroyShane Lowry, Justin Rose and even Sergio Garcia expressed their dismay.
The 2025 Ryder Cup will be played from September 26 to 28.
Europe has won eight of the last eleven victories, although its last victory on American soil dates back to 2012.
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