"Not a single player has asked for this"- Keegan Bradley confirms payments for the Ryder Cup players are under consideration
Keegan Bradley, captain of the U.S. team for the 2025 Ryder Cup, confirmed speculation about a possible payout to players. However, Bradley did not mention an estimated amount and even clarified that "there's nothing that's been finalized."
Bradley spoke on the subject from the Albany Golf Course, Bahamas, home of the Hero World Challenge. One of the points Bradley made was that the players had nothing to do with the matter.
This was part of what Keegan Bradley had to say (via Sports Illustrated):
"What I can say is that not a single player has asked for this, has come to me with this. No player was part of this. Zero percent."
Keegan Bradley also stated that he was very disappointed that this information was leaked to the press. He said:
"To be honest with you, there’s not much to talk about; these leaks that came out were ... leaks. I was shocked to see the leaks, as was the PGA of America. As was everybody involved. There’s been nothing that’s been finalized, done. This is all speculation at this point."
Keegan Bradley supported Tiger Woods' ideas on the subject
Keegan Bradley backed up Tiger Woods' words on the matter on Tuesday. Woods had agreed earlier that Ryder Cup team members should receive money to distribute to charities of their choice.
This is what Bradley said:
"What Tiger [Woods] said was 100 percent correct. I don’t think the charity dollars have changed from ’99. It’s been the same number. But it’s the PGA of America’s decision."
Currently, American players who play in the Ryder Cup do not receive any payment for their participation in the event. However, the PGA sets aside $200,000 to donate to charity on behalf of each player.
Half of this amount goes to designated organizations (the Boys & Girls Club of America, the Drive, Chip, & Putt Championship, and the PGA Junior League) and the other half to organizations of the players' choice.
The Ryder Cup player payments rumor
Two weeks ago, The Telegraph reported that American Ryder Cup players would begin receiving payments for their participation, starting in 2025. The report also claimed that the payments would amount to $400,000 for each player.
Since then, numerous players and people associated with golf in a general sense have expressed opinions both for and against the issue.
Rory McIlroy said he would be willing to pay for the honor of representing Europe in the Ryder Cup, while Paul McGinley was also against the possibility.
Even golf influencer Paige Spiranac lamented on her X account (formerly Twitter) that the biennial event has also fallen into the money controversy that has plagued the world of golf in recent years.