Americans making their first Ryder Cup appearances will be paid under a PGA of America program that gives each player a $200,000 stipend and donates $300,000 to charity.
The 12 players and captains each received $500,000, an increase from the $200,000 (strictly for charity) that started when pay-to-play issues first arose before the Brookline game in 1999.
The PGA of America's board of directors met in person last week and approved the payment plan, announcing the plan on its social channels Monday morning.
PGA of America President Don Rea said in a letter to previous Ryder Cup captains: “Out of respect for the players, we have increased the stipend by $200,000…so that the players can make a contribution to this payment. Have a say in where the money goes “It’s a recognition of all the players who have done so much for the Ryder Cup over the years. “
Captain America Keegan Bradley has said he will donate his entire grant to charity. That $500,000 – 40 percent of which has no stipulated destination – is roughly equivalent to 10th place in the PGA Championship.
The PGA of America said no players have requested compensation. The statement said players and captains are responsible for the Ryder Cup becoming one of the world's premier sporting events.
“We've had a lot of meetings over a long period of time and it hasn't gone up since 1999. We've been talking about $200,000 for 25 years,” Rea said in a phone interview. He added, $500,000 “seems about right.”
“Everyone appreciates what the players have done for the Ryder Cup.”
The original agreement in 1999 was for $200,000 per player, with half going to the college golf program and the other half to a charity of the player's choice. For the 2023 Rome game, all $200,000 is donated to a charity or foundation of the player's choice.
In his letter to the former Ryder Cup captain, Wray noted that this is similar to what the PGA Tour did for the Presidents Cup.
“Players and captains past and present are responsible for making the Ryder Cup the most special event in golf and one of the most popular events in international sport,” the PGA said.
“…golf is a historic charity game, and it is exciting to imagine the impact members of the 2025 U.S. Ryder Cup team will have on worthy causes and communities across the country, including supporting Golf has developed many moves into the game.
The recent pay-per-view has become a talking point for next September's game at Bethpage Black, providing easy fodder for a European side that has won the cup 10 times out of the last 14 times, including Cup 2023 at Marco Simeone.
“I'm personally willing to pay for the privilege of playing in the Ryder Cup,” Rory McIlroy told BBC Sport last month. “The two purest forms of competition in our game right now are the Ryder Cup and the Olympics, partly because… there's just no money involved.”
The financial situation of the Ryder Cup will vary depending on where it is held. The European Tour has a strong presence in the European Ryder Cup and without the profits from the European competition, the Tour would struggle to survive.
The PGA of America operates the tournament in the United States. It pays the PGA Tour 20 percent of broadcast revenue — effectively as a distribution fee for using tour players — and the money goes into the tour's general operating budget.
Kerry Haigh, chief tournament officer and interim CEO of the PGA of America, paints a picture of the changing landscape in sports.
“Twenty-five years later, the time is now,” Haig said. “We had discussions during that time. We sincerely thank every player and captain for everything they have done and all the money was donated to charity. Now is the time and that is why our board has also decided to donate to charity Offer more money as a stipend.
He said assistant captains were also paid less than the 12 players and captains.
Tiger Woods said the conversation in the Bahamas two weeks ago was the same as in 1999, when he said players wanted more say in how money is spent, but that was framed as them wanting to be paid for playing.
“The Ryder Cup itself makes a lot of money,” Woods said. “Why can't we just distribute it to various charities? What's the problem with each player, 12 players getting $1 million and having the ability to distribute it to the amazing charities that they're involved in that they can help?”
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