How much money do Ryder Cup players receive for participating in this prestigious event? Some might say this is a controversial topic.
Getty Images
Friday afternoon at Ryder CupShortly after Robert MacIntyre and Justin Rose won the final two holes to gain a half point in their match against Max Homa and Wyndham Clark, MacIntyre, a Ryder Cup rookie, spoke about what it felt like to do his debut during the noisy 1st. tee.
“It was everything I dreamed of,” said MacIntyre, a 27-year-old Scottish professional. “It’s the reason I play golf. People ask me at the beginning of the week if that’s a reason why I play golf, and I mean, now I realize that’s the reason I play golf.
MacIntyre’s summary of his first Ryder Cup experience is no exception. The pride of playing for one’s country – and of having played well enough in the years before qualifying for the team itself – is a major career goal for American and European pros.
The vast majority of pros would say that the pride and fire of fierce competition is the reason they play the Ryder Cup – because they certainly don’t play it for money.
The Ryder Cup does not pay its players and does not distribute purses to winners. Instead, members of the U.S. Ryder Cup team each receive $200,000 to donate to a charity of their choice. According to the PGA of America, 20% of Ryder Cup media rights also go to PGA Tour player deferred compensation plans.
Ryder Cup payment controversy
The Ryder Cup has been played since 1927, and the issue of player compensation has arisen often over the years, most notably in 1999, ahead of that year’s Ryder Cup in Brookline, Massachusetts.
“It could happen in September,” said David Duval. Golf summary at the time, when asked about the possibility of a boycott of the Ryder Cup in 1999. “More than likely, though, next time in 2001. Certainly in two days.” It’s imminent. It’s just talking to the guys. Some are fed up. »
The Ryder Cup, hosted by the PGA of America, has become an extremely profitable event for the organization, even though much of the revenue it generates goes toward its other core programs. Some stakeholders have contested the fact that these benefits are not shared, but also the fact that they do not have a say in how they are spent.
This led to more conversations and meetings, and it was decided that players would receive money to donate to the charities of their choice. In February 2000, this change was officially announced by the PGA of America.
“I don’t think anyone was ever looking for the PGA of America to give up all the money,” Duval said. ESPN, after the announcement. “They were the ones who took the risk and took the hits when (the Ryder Cup) it didn’t do anything good. It’s nice to be able to put some of the charitable money towards where you can feel it can be a benefit back home.
The latest alleged instance of this controversy came this year, when Sky Sports’ Jamie Weir reported on Saturday during the Ryder Cup, citing multiple sources, that Patrick Cantlay had expressed frustration over the lack of payment to Ryder Cup players. Cantlay has not yet commented on the report.
The PGA of America has made public which charities players have donated to during the 2021 Ryder Cup, although that information has not yet been shared for this year.
European players have long received a gift from their captain for participating in this event. According to the DP World Tour, part of its profits are donated to a Ryder Cup Development Trust to help develop local projects in Europe. This trust works with current and past Ryder Cup players on specific projects in their home countries.
European star Jon Rahm said on Tuesday: “To be honest, I don’t need to be paid to come here and perform in front of people. »
