Keegan Bradley defends US Ryder Cup player payments as charity boost

FARMINGDALE – United States captain Keegan Bradley has defended his Ryder Cup players receiving a payment boost from the PGA of America to compete against Europe in this week’s showdown at Bethpage Black.

Each American player had been paid US$200,000 (S$257,000) since 1999, funds designated for a player-picked charity and for PGA of America youth golf and education programmes.

For this 2025 edition, the PGA of America gives each player US$500,000 with at least US$300,000 designated for charities of a player’s choice and the other a US$200,000 stipend to be used however each individual player sees fit.

The move, Bradley said on Sept 22, was designed to boost charity donations and update offerings for the first time in a quarter-century.

“The PGA of America came to me, they wanted to bring the Ryder Cup into the present day. The charity dollars hadn’t changed since 1999 and they asked me to sort of shepherd their way into making it into 2025,” said Bradley, who plans to donate his additional US$200,000 stipend to charity.

Europe players will not be paid to participate, with captain Luke Donald saying that seeking any kind of payment for Ryder Cup duty was not on his team’s radar.

“I reached out to all the 12 guys from Rome to see how they felt. Their voices are important. Everyone was like: ‘We haven’t even considered playing for money for that event’. We just don’t see that,” he said.

“It speaks to what the Ryder Cup means to these guys. We certainly don’t need any motivation or monetary rewards to get us up.”

Bradley was not worried about the idea the money might show the Cup means more to Europe players, saying: “I don’t really get that. I’m not concerned about what Europe does or what they think. I’m concerned about what my team is doing.

“I was tasked with a job the PGA of America asked me to do and this was what we decided. We wanted to bring the Ryder Cup into today’s age and we felt like this was the best way to do it.”

Charities to receive funds have not been designated publicly by US players.

“I think for everyone it’s a personal decision. A lot of guys aren’t comfortable sharing what they’re going to do with their money, but we’re going to donate,” Bradley added.

“I don’t donate to charities to publicise what we’re doing. These guys on our team are incredible people and they do a lot of incredible things with charity dollars and with their foundations.

“A lot of them aren’t comfortable sharing that sort of information and I feel the same way.”

Donald, ESPN reported, said the payments could produce a US fan backlash given the high prices to attend the event near New York.

“We all know how high the ticket prices are and it’s going to be an expensive trip out for a family of four,” he said. “If the US players are getting paid a stipend, or whatever it is, and they aren’t performing, the New Yorkers could make them know about it.” AFP