While it is not a Ryder Cup year, the event has been a key talking point in the golfing world over the last couple of weeks with a seismic change set to be made ahead of Bethpage.
Of course, for many, the Ryder Cup is the pinnacle of golf. Few events provide the same drama, particularly in a sport where the elite game is dominated by strokeplay tournaments. And it is particularly special because it is a rare event where the world’s best are not playing for unthinkable riches.
That is until 2025.
It was reported this month that the American players are set to be paid for the first time at the next Ryder Cup, with each of their 12 stars set to receive $400,000. Unsurprisingly, there has been quite the backlash to the reports.
American Ryder Cup stars told they now owe journalist a ‘big apology’
Rory McIlroy has suggested that the Europeans will not look to be paid to ever play in the event.
It is definitely a big change, with some fearing that this could lead to a slippery slope. But others will suggest that this has been coming for some time.
Of course, one of the most controversial moments during the 2023 Ryder Cup centred around Patrick Cantlay and why he was not wearing a cap throughout the week. Jamie Weir and Sky Sports reported that Cantlay was doing so in protest at the team not being paid.
Unsurprisingly, Cantlay strongly denied the reports, and with that, Weir took a lot of criticism for his claims.
But with this development ahead of 2025, Bunkered digital editor Michael McEwan hit out at how the American players conducted themselves that week on the Sky Sports Golf Podcast.
“Some of these guys by the way owe Jamie Weir a big apology. Jamie covered that story in Rome and took a lot of heat. I saw Jamie when I was there and the toll that took when these guys were denying what was blatantly true; Jamie’s a good guy and a hell of a reporter and he took a lot of heat for that, some really incredible things said to him and about him on social media,” he said.
“He was bang on, he was absolutely bang on with his reporting, certainly of the fact that these guys are wanting to be paid. Some of the excuses that they tried to come out with to try and defend it to now, what are we, just over a year removed from that whole furore, I’m actually struggling to believe – I’m not saying I’m not surprised – I’m struggling to believe a wee bit that it’s actually happened.”
All eyes on Patrick Cantlay’s headwear at Bethpage
Cantlay’s reason for not wearing a cap in Rome was the fact that they had been unable to get one which fit comfortably. However, he had also been without one in 2021 at Whistling Straits, while he did wear one during the 2022 Presidents Cup – an event run by the PGA Tour rather than the PGA of America.
Of course, the outside world is never likely to know exactly what went on in the American team room in Marco Simone amid reports of a real rift. But the fact that the players are now set to be paid at the following Ryder Cup definitely does hint that the united front Zach Johnson’s team presented amid the criticism did not tell the full story by any means.
It sounds ridiculous to say, but there are now likely to be plenty of eyes on whether Cantlay is wearing a cap when he tees it up for the first time at Bethpage next year.
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