Whether or not gamers ought to receives a commission to seem within the Ryder Cup has been a contentious subject down the years. There are two sides of the argument.
The one which has held sway for therefore lengthy is that the status and taking part in to your nation/continent far outweighs any ideas of cash. The counter-argument is that everybody concerned makes a buck out of the Ryder Cup so why shouldn’t the gamers too?
Tiger Woods spoke about it in late 2024.
“We had the identical dialog again in 1999 (when the Individuals pulled off a surprising win at Brookline),” mentioned Woods.
“We didn’t wish to receives a commission. We wished to offer more cash to charity [but] the media turned it spherical in opposition to us and mentioned we wished to receives a commission.
“The Ryder Cup makes a lot cash, why can’t we allocate it to varied charities?”
Against this, Rory McIlroy additionally gave his opinion on the again finish of 2024.
“I personally would pay for the privilege to play within the Ryder Cup,” mentioned the Northern Irishman.
“The 2 purest types of competitors in our sport proper now are the Ryder Cup and the Olympics, and it’s partly due to that, the purity of no cash being concerned.”
His ideas have been echoed by lots of his European teammates.
Will gamers receives a commission to seem within the 2025 Ryder Cup?
The frequent perception amongst most golf followers is that gamers nonetheless don’t receives a commission. In spite of everything, it’s been that approach because the first version was performed 98 years in the past.
However will issues change in 2025? The reply is ‘sure’. Not less than on the American facet.
In December, the PGA of America introduced that every of the 12 gamers on Keegan Bradley’s US staff will likely be paid.
They may obtain $500,000, with $300,000 donated to a charity/charities of every participant’s selection and the remaining $200,00 being termed a “stipend”.
“The gamers and captains, previous and current, are answerable for the Ryder Cup changing into essentially the most particular competitors in golf and probably the most in-demand occasions on the worldwide sports activities scene,” the PGA of America mentioned in a press release.
“Whereas no gamers requested to be compensated, the PGA of America board of administrators has voted to extend the allocation to the members of the US Ryder Cup staff from $200,000 to be directed to charities – a determine unchanged since 1999 – to $500,000, with $300,000 of that to be directed to the charity or charities of the gamers’ selection.
“The steadiness is a stipend.”
Will Crew Europe additionally receives a commission?
European skipper Luke Donald has insisted he’s “100 per cent” in opposition to altering the custom so his staff gained’t be paid.
Does that give Europe the ethical excessive floor? Crew USA’s Xander Schauffele believes that some sections of the media will spin it that approach.
“I simply see it as an entire lot of cash going to charity and we’re going to take lots of c**p,” mentioned the double main winner.
“It’s by no means going to be perceived that approach, simply with how the media talks about stuff and the way issues shook down in Italy (2023 Ryder Cup).
“It’s going to go to charity. I spoke to Keegan and he had a plan earlier than, and that obtained blown up by the leak of the entire thing.
“Keegan had a plan to get all of the boys to do one thing very nice. And now everyone seems to be pointing fingers on how this factor has shaken down.”
One factor’s for certain, the controversy gained’t go away and Patrick Reed was requested about it when coming over to the UK to contest the current BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.
Reed, dubbed ‘Captain America’ for his previous chest-thumping exploits for Crew America within the Ryder Cup, thinks cash ought to undoubtedly not be concerned.
“I actually assume it’s pointless. There are particular occasions that cash means completely nothing and that’s certainly one of them.”
Regardless of their protestations that the cash goes to charity, it’s laborious to not conclude that it’s a nasty search for the Individuals.
Whether or not they prefer it or not, the affiliation has now been made.
If issues go fallacious for Bradley’s staff at Bethpage Black later this month, many will use the cash debate as a follow beat them with.
