The 2025 Ryder Cup is still more than nine months away, but discussion of the competition has increased in recent months – and that's thanks to the potential payouts. According to reports that the PGA of America may have paid American players $400,000 for their services at Bethpage Black, US Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley has joined the matter.
“To be honest, there's not much to talk about [pay]; “These leaks that came to light were … leaks,” Bradley said Sports Illustrated. “I was shocked when I saw the leaks, as was the PGA of America. And everyone involved too. There was nothing finalized or done. This is all just speculation at this point. I was definitely disappointed that someone leaked this information. “That” was definitely a shock.
The PGA of America is currently offering players $200,000, which will then be donated to charities and junior golf organizations on their behalf. Discussions about Ryder Cup compensation date back to 1999, when Tiger Woods founded his second team. The 15-time major champion spoke about the current discourse ahead of the Hero World Challenge 2024, the event he hosts annually in the Bahamas.
“The Ryder Cup itself brings in so much money, why can't we give it to different charities?” Woods said. “And what's wrong with every player, 12 players, getting a million dollars and having the opportunity to donate to great charities that they're involved with so they can help? It's their hometowns, where they come from, all the different junior golf sports.” Clubs or ventures that the members are involved in.
“It was never really about getting paid. It's about how we can provide resources to help our sport or support things we believe in back home – because it's so hard to get on this team; there are only 12 people. What's wrong with being able to do that?” to provide more funding… I hope they get $5 million each and donate it all to charity, different charities. What’s wrong with that?”
Pay was front and center at the 2023 Ryder Cup as rumors spread around Marco Simone's grounds that Patrick Cantlay was not wearing a team cap in silent protest over a lack of compensation. Emotions ran high after a heated match between Cantlay and Rory McIlroy, sparking a back-and-forth between the Northern Irishman and Cantlay's caddy Joe LaCava.
Discussions about the Ryder Cup resurfaced last fall when the PGA of America released ticket prices for the 2025 competition at Bethpage Black. The organization offered general admission tickets for competition days for around $750 and ultimately sold out despite backlash from golf fans.
“What Tiger said was 100% correct,” Bradley continued. “I don’t think the donations have changed since 1999. It's the same number. But it's the PGA of America's decision. I'll have to wait and see what they want to do. I don't have the power to change anything.” What I can say is that not a single player asked for it, not a single player was involved.
