“Bit disgraceful” - Dame Laura Davies sounds off on the American team reportedly being paid for the 2025 Ryder Cup
Solheim Cup legend Dame Laura Davies recently criticized the decision to pay Team USA's players for the 2025 Ryder Cup, calling it "disgraceful" and stating that it was beyond her understanding.
Dame Laura Davies is a 20-time winner on the LPGA Tour and a 12-time Solheim Cup player. She has represented Europe in four wins.
It was recently reported that Team USA players are set to receive payment in the next edition of the Ryder Cup. Speaking to Sky Sports, Laura Davies reacted to the news of US players being paid in the 2025 Ryder Cup.
"Anyone that wants to be paid, I think it's a bit disgraceful really because if you're a Ryder Cup player, you've earned a lot of money to get into the team," she said. "So to want more for whatever reasons their reasons are, maybe if they get the ones that aren't that bothered, get the money, they'll give it to their foundations and stuff, which would be lovely, obviously."
"But to go on about money to get into a Ryder Cup, I just don't understand it. And I'm sure it's not all the players, it’s probably just a few that want the money. For their own reasons, it won't be because they need the money, it'll be because they feel the players should be paid. I'm with Rory. I would love to have played another Solheim Cup. It's just the biggest honor you'll ever have in your career," she added.
For the uninitiated, the reports have claimed that each of the US players will get around $400,000 to participate in next year's event.
"I personally would pay for the privilege" - Rory McIlroy on the US players being paid for the 2025 Ryder Cup
Earlier, Rory McIlroy stated that he had no issue with not being paid to participate in the Ryder Cup.
"I personally would pay for the privilege to play on the Ryder Cup," he said, as per 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," he added.
The 2025 Ryder Cup is scheduled to take place from September 25 to 28, 2025 at Bethpage Black Course in Bethpage State Park, Farmingdale, New York. Last year, Team Europe secured a 16.5-11.5 victory over Team USA. Rory McIlroy was the standout performer for Team Europe, finishing with a 4-1-0 record.