KAPALUA, Hawaii — For the first time, Americans will be paid to play in the Ryder Cup, and Xander Schauffele said Tuesday the plan is for them to get nothing at all.
“I just think it's a lot of money going to charity and we're going to be dealing with a lot of trash,” Schauffele said.
The PGA of America voted last month to donate $300,000 to 12 players and captain Keegan Bradley and $200,000 to the charity of their choice. of allowances. Bradley immediately said he would donate his entire fortune to charity.
Bradley said this has always been his team's plan, but didn't expect to make the announcement until closer to the September 2025 games so he could have a better idea of who would make up the team. The Daily Telegraph reported in November that Americans would receive $400,000, but made no mention of how it would be divided between charities and allowances.
“When this report came out, our timeline was screwed up. Our plan was not for this to happen so quickly,” Bradley said. “We just want to do the right thing. It's ultimately the PGA of America's decision. All we want to do is give back more and make more of an impact.”
The topic of pay-to-play first arose in 1999, when David Duval, Tiger Woods and Mark O'Meara questioned why PGA Tour players were not paying for They contribute to the revenue generated by the PGA of America in the Ryder Cup, which is quickly becoming golf's largest revenue generator.
The PGA of America has agreed to donate $200,000 per player to charity, with half going to PGA of America programs and half to a charity of the player's choice.
In 2023, the topic became a talking point outside of Roma again due to an unconfirmed report that Patrick Cantlay chose not to wear a hat in protest at not being paid. Cantlay said there was “not a shred of truth” and his teammates agreed.
“When it comes to the Ryder Cup, I'm completely focused on representing my country and winning points for my teammates,” Cantlay said Tuesday. “Right now, I'm completely focused on building the team.”
Schauffele, the defending PGA champion and British Open champion, laughed when asked what his reaction was when he heard the PGA of America had decided to increase the charity amount to $300,000 and provide an additional $200,000 in stipends.
“I see it as an opportunity to donate more money,” he said. “It was never going to be looked at in that way, just how the media talked about things and how things were changing in Italy. It will be donated to charity. I spoke to Keegan and he had a plan before but it was Ruined.
“Keegan had a plan to get all the boys to do something really good. Now everyone is pointing fingers at how this happened. Learning from the PGA Tour, we will do whatever we can to help give back to the community, Whether it's the fire department or the NYPD or you name it Keegan is from the Northeast, we're going to accept his leadership.
The tournament will take place September 26-28 at Bethpage Black in New York, a public ballpark known for having some of the rowdiest fans.
European players such as Rory McIlroy welcomed the controversy, saying the Ryder Cup meant so much to them that they were happy to pay to play. Europe has won eight of its past 11 games, although its last victory on U.S. soil was in 2012.
Schauffele said that will only make the Ryder Cup more intense.
“The whole thing is changing, which is good for this big competition. And it's going to be better for the Ryder Cup,” he said. “What happens every time there's an argument? It makes everything around it liven up. The Ryder Cup is going to be better because of it.
“We're used to going to these team events and not getting paid and happily giving away our share of the money. It's a really good thing we can do. We make a lot of money year-round, so when we have When money is available, we are happy to donate money.
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