The debate about whether United States players should be paid to play in the Ryder Cup has been going on for many years. This is a recurring discussion that has seen several notable episodes, such as the one in 1999 – there was even talk of a boycott – or the last edition in Rome, when a rumor spread that Patrick Cantlay did not wear a cap in protest for this reason.
Let us remember that currently the PGA of the United States grants each player $200,000, which goes to a charity of their choice. This measure arose after Ryder in 1999. The fact is that the British media The Daily Telegraph reported last month that a plan was being worked on to pay each golfer in the United States $400,000 ahead of the Bethpage Black edition, and since then the debate has intensified.
For his part, 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.” El Tigre also talked about his plan: “What’s wrong with each of the 12 players receiving a million dollars and being allowed to divide it between different charities they are involved with and can help?” .
With this melon open, a dozen former captains of the United States have decided to send a letter to the PGA of the United States, as reported by Sport Illustrated, in which they are urged not to pay the members of the American team for the dispute of this tournament. . Of course, the signatories are not against payments being made, as long as they are destined for charity, and in this sense they welcome the increase of the figure of 200,000 euros.
“When that formula was agreed upon, it was done with the idea that one should play for one’s country and not obtain financial benefits,” one of the former captains – anonymous – tells Sport Illustrated. According to the current US captain, Keegan Bradley, no player has told him that he wants to get paid to compete in the Ryder.
