"I don't care whether I get paid or not" - Shane Lowry responds to reports of US Ryder Cup players getting paid $4 million
Shane Lowry doesn't care if he's paid to play in the Ryder Cup. Yesterday, November 13, reports broke that the United States was poised to ratify a $4 million payment for the players. It breaks down to about $400,000 per player, but Lowry, a European player, isn't interested.
Via The Independent, Lowry said:
“I can only speak for myself. I don’t really care whether I did (get paid) or not, to be honest. You know, the Ryder Cup is a privilege, and it’s what I work for. It’s what I’ve worked for for the last 10, 15 years, to be able to play Ryder Cups, and I’ve been fortunate to do two of them and have great experiences at them and build my brand playing Ryder Cups.
I think, yeah, I love the tournament, and I just want to be involved. I don't care whether I get paid or not.”
The report stated that this was only a change for the United States. It also comes one year after the controversy at the 2023 Ryder Cup. That year, Patrick Cantlay went viral for not wearing the team hat. He told the media that he wasn't wearing it because it didn't fit properly, but rumors swirled that it was a form of protest for players competing without pay. Ultimately, that may not be an issue by the 2025 Cup.
Shane Lowry doesn't anticipate European Ryder Cup players being paid
Shane Lowry knows the USA will soon be paid for playing in the Ryder Cup. He said he doesn't care if the European team follows suit. But when it comes down to it, the Irish golfer doesn't think it will.
Lowry said via The Independent:
“I think obviously we're The European Tour. They are The PGA of America. They are not the PGA TOUR. They are The PGA of America. It's their call, not our call. It's up to the powers that be what happens there.”
“Yeah, we all know in Europe that the tour lives off the Ryder Cup, and it helps run the Tour. Not that we're happy to be a part of something – like you don't think about it when you’re there."
Lowry said the Ryder Cup greatly helps the DP World Tour and that's what truly matters - not whether or not he has a little more money in his pocket every other fall