The debate over whether United States players should be paid to play in the Ryder Cup has been open for many years. It is a recurring discussion that has lived several notable episodes, such as in 1999 – there was even talk of a boycott – or the last edition in Rome, when there was a rumor that Patrick Cantlay did not wear a cap in protest for this reason.
Let’s remember that the US PGA currently gives each player $200,000, which is donated to a charity of their choice. This measure came about after the 1999 Ryder Cup. The British newspaper The Daily Telegraph reported last month that a plan was being worked on to pay each US golfer $400,000 ahead of the Bethpage Black edition, and the debate has intensified since then.
Cantlay reiterated last week at the Hero World Challenge that the cap episode had nothing to do with this type of claim. In the same context, Tiger Woods spoke about what happened in 1999: “We didn’t want to get paid, but the media turned it around”. The Tiger also spoke about his plan: “What’s wrong with each of the 12 players getting a million dollars and being allowed to split it between different charities they’re involved with and can help?”
With this melon open, a dozen former United States captains have decided to send a letter to the PGA of America, according to Sports Illustrated, urging them not to pay for the tournament to be played by members of the American team. However, the signatories are not opposed to payments being made, as long as they are for charity, and in this sense they would welcome the figure of 200,000 euros to increase.
“When that formula was agreed upon, it was done with the idea that one should play for one’s country and not for financial gain,” one of the anonymous former captains told Sports Illustrated. According to current US captain Keegan Bradley, no player has told him that they want to be paid to play in the Ryder Cup.
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