Now this is interesting.....USA players on Ryder Cup team get paid and Europe doesn't??

[a kennedy]

Luke Donald has cranked up the heat on the United States Ryder Cup team by claiming the home crowd at Bethpage from Friday may be more likely to turn on Keegan Bradley and his players because they are being paid to take on Europe. In what is a highly controversial move, Bradley and his 12-man side will each collect $500,000 (£370,000) – $300,000 of which must be directed towards charity, with the rest labelled a stipend – while the European contingent continue to perform at the Ryder Cup for free. Added to the mix is the fact that tickets start at $750 per tournament day.

Much has been made of likely antipathy from the New York audience towards Donald and his players as Europe look to retain the trophy they won in Rome two years ago. However, the Englishman believes USA could find themselves under intense gallery pressure if Europe gain an upper hand. “That could happen,” said Donald. “We all know how high the ticket prices are, and it’s going to be an expensive trip out for a family of four. 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.”

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/sep/21/ryder-cup-usa-europe-bethpage-black-golf

[ProfessorGAC]

1. Not New

This was announced before the last Ryder Cup.
The Euros were offered the same deal but decided they would do it for free.
The deal also included each team member to donate 60% of the pay to charity, and that 60% would be held in a trust until the player decided to whom it should be sent.
Not defending the decision of multimillionaires to take cash for the honor of being named to the Ryder Cup team.
But, the pay situation is not a big surprise nor is it all bad.