WWhat the Ryder Cup players in the United States won’t say has quickly become much more interesting than what they will. Awkward shuffling has become the norm at this year’s Hero World Challenge, an event considered a stress-free opportunity to unwind at the end of a hectic season. The last place in the Bahamas earns $150,000. Money, money, money must be funny in a rich man’s world.
Last month it emerged that discussions are underway over payments of roughly $400,000 each to the 12 players who will represent the US against Europe at Bethpage next September. Validation can only occur if the PGA of America appoints a new CEO; it seems unlikely at best that Seth Waugh’s successor will begin his tenure irritating golfers who long ago grew dangerously strong.
Rory McIlroy’s increasing disdain for the greed and self-interest of countless PGA Tour players has been easy to trace in recent times. McIlroy responded to the Ryder Cup scenario by insisting he would pay to play in the biennial joust. This in turn seemed to catch the attention of Tiger Woods.
The version of history provided by Woods, particularly regarding the 1999 Ryder Cup, places the blame elsewhere. “We didn’t want to get paid, we wanted to give more money to charities and the media turned on us and said we wanted to get paid,” said the 15-time major winner.
Indeed, a huge furor surrounded Woods, Mark O’Meara and David Duval in particular. Amid rumors of refusing to play at Brookline, Ben Crenshaw managed to calm the waters. Woods believes the class of 2025 should have the right to donate millions to charity from the Ryder Cup bounty.
The problem is that if players are getting paid there is no reasonable way to find out – and why should there be? – where that money goes. If charity is the real subtext again, golfers could simply instruct the PGA of America to transfer a certain portion of Ryder Cup funds to a dozen nominated charities.
Scottie Scheffler, the typically unflappable world number one, seemed irritated that the subject was even brought up. “All of us on the American side are more than willing to play in the Ryder Cup for free,” he said. “We have been playing for free in the Ryder Cup for a long time.” Scheffler added: “I don’t think there’s any problem with guys getting paid to play in the Ryder Cup. I don’t think this is at the expense of competition.
“I don’t play golf for money. I’ve been playing golf for free all my life and the money is just a bonus. If anyone wants to pay us to come play golf here, that’s great, I’m not going to say no. I am going to do my best in my community to manage that money well.” In other words, I don’t need money, but I like to receive it and make sure I don’t waste it on wine, women and song.
The idea of athletes taking a piece of an ever-growing pie is hardly new. Some might even argue that it is completely valid. But the optics associated with the current US Ryder Cup scene are terrible. Spectators pay $750 for tournament days at Bethpage. It costs $350 to be a volunteer (work that out).
Partly due to the arrival of LIV, golfers have never had it so good. Scheffler has amassed $71 million in official PGA Tour money. Patrick Cantlay? $48 million. Justin Thomas has almost $60 million through the same algorithm. Add to that the sponsorship deals and it’s easy to see why large swathes of even the golf-worshipping public cite vulgarity. The Ryder Cup broke the mold by being more than a check: until now.
Neither Woods nor Scheffler were willing to address this element. Neither Cantlay nor Thomas. Keegan Bradley, the American captain, continued his muddled approach to leadership by objecting to the news that the payment surfaced at all, rather than adequately addressing its significance. “I was definitely disappointed that someone had leaked that information,” Bradley said. Shoot the messenger.
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“My thoughts on the Ryder Cup are very simple,” Cantlay said. “I’m there to represent my country and I’m there to win points for my teammates and that’s it.” This golfer’s continued public reticence on broader issues is quite striking, given the perceived influence he wields in the balance of power. Will the real Patrick Cantlay please stand up?
“It’s a weird, touchy subject and you’re kind of damned if you do, damned if you don’t,” Thomas said. “Obviously we would all be playing if we weren’t compensated.”
Thomas made comparisons to college athletes, which showed at least an element of contextual awareness. But the most striking thing between Woods, Scheffler, Cantlay and Thomas – key figures in this scene – is that no one would dare say Ryder Cup participants would not cash out if given enough opportunity to do so. They would earn even more respect if they argued forcefully why participants should charge a fee.
However the Americans try to talk their way out of this situation – and it seems reasonable to assume that there will be at least some element of public relations softening going forward – Luke Donald and the Europeans have found their feet. Glory vs. money. Pride vs. Pounds. The tough questions will keep coming for those planning to don the stars and stripes.