2025 Ryder Cup payment: Historic £400k for players, with £240k donated to charity

In a groundbreaking development for golf’s prestigious Ryder Cup, Team USA players will receive £400,000 each for competing in the 2025 Ryder Cup. This historic decision marks the first time in the 98-year history of the event that players will be paid to participate. Additionally, £240,000 from each player’s 2025 Ryder Cup payment will be donated to charity, adding a unique philanthropic element to the competition.

The landmark change has sparked debate about the purity of the Ryder Cup, which has historically been seen as a competition driven by national pride rather than financial reward. The PGA of America justified the move by highlighting the players’ contributions to making the Ryder Cup “the most special competition in golf and one of the most in-demand events on the international sports scene.”

Keegan Bradley, the US captain for the 2025 Ryder Cup, will select six wildcard players to join the six who qualify automatically based on the US Ryder Cup points list. This structure remains unchanged, but the inclusion of monetary compensation raises questions about whether this change could shift the focus of the competition in the future.

The decision comes just over a year after Patrick Cantlay, one of Team USA’s prominent players, was reported to have protested the lack of payment by refusing to wear the team cap during the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome. Cantlay’s protest sparked widespread debate at the time, and this new development appears to be a direct response.

However, the decision hasn’t gone unchallenged. Rory McIlroy, one of Europe’s leading golfers, recently expressed his unwavering support for the traditional spirit of the Ryder Cup. “I personally would pay for the privilege to play in the Ryder Cup,” McIlroy stated during an interview with BBC Sport. “The two purest forms of competition in our game right now are the Ryder Cup and the Olympics, and it’s partly because of that—the purity of no money being involved.”

The Ryder Cup has long stood apart from the commercialised aspects of professional golf, with its emphasis on camaraderie and team spirit. Critics now fear that this monetary introduction could undermine the event’s unique identity. McIlroy’s sentiment resonates with many fans and players alike, who view the Ryder Cup as an honour rather than an opportunity for financial gain.

Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele, two of Team USA’s key players, have yet to comment publicly on the new payment arrangement. Cantlay, who reportedly earned £4.75 million this year on the PGA Tour, was at the centre of last year’s controversy over player compensation. With the Ryder Cup scheduled to take place at Bethpage Black in New York in 2025, attention is already building for what promises to be an intriguing showdown, both on and off the course.

The decision to monetise the Ryder Cup could set a precedent for future editions, raising the question of whether Europe might follow suit. For now, Team USA’s payment plan remains a divisive issue. Some see it as a deserved reward for the players’ dedication and skill, while others worry it’s a step too far into the commercialisation of golf’s most cherished traditions.