Billy Horschel will definitely be one player who will have his eye on making Keegan Bradley’s USA team for the 2025 Ryder Cup after seemingly coming so close to being involved with the Presidents Cup earlier this year.
It seems almost remarkable that Billy Horschel has only made one team appearance for USA during his career – that coming at the 2022 Presidents Cup. Horschel is responsible for a rule change after missing out on making the Ryder Cup in 2014. But he is still yet to make his debut in the competition.
However, Horschel was arguably unlucky to miss out on the Presidents Cup earlier this year. The 38-year-old won the BMW PGA Championship in style just after missing out on a captain’s pick from Jim Furyk ahead of Royal Montreal.
Of course, the big talking point surrounding the Ryder Cup right now concerns the players on the American side being paid at the event. After much speculation, the PGA of America have now confirmed that each member of Keegan Bradley‘s team will receive $300,000 to donate to charity, while there will also be a $200,000 stipend for players to do as they wish.
Billy Horschel reacts to USA Ryder Cup players being paid from 2025
The move arguably does Luke Donald‘s team talk for him ahead of Bethpage. But speaking on the Golf Channel Podcast, Horschel has insisted that the change does not impact his determination to make the team.
“My pockets don’t need to be filled to play in a team competition. I’m very happy to play one without having money in my pocket,” he said.
“Now, does it need to be done? I don’t know, I don’t worry about that. Listen, I played one team competition, it was a Presidents Cup team, we got X amount of dollars that we could use in how we saw fit.
“The majority of the time, every player gives it to charity, that’s what they do, and that’s what’s always been done and always set up. So with this more money, it doesn’t make me want to make the team any more than what I already did.
“I think if that’s what the PGA of America saw fit and that’s what they wanted to do, so be it. But like I said, I’m very happy to be a part of the Ryder Cup team and not get one cent from it.”
What Keegan Bradley has already said about being paid for being involved at the Ryder Cup
You do have to feel for Keegan Bradley slightly. The PGA of America claimed that not one player had asked for payment. But given the rumours surrounding the 2023 Ryder Cup, it is easy to paint the American players out as villains.
And thus, Bradley has got a PR nightmare on his hands – and he probably had absolutely nothing to do with the decision.
It is no surprise therefore, that Bradley has already confirmed that he plans to give all $500,000 to charity. And it seems that Horschel would follow suit if he manages to make the team.
The Ryder Cup makes so much money that it actually makes sense to reward the players financially. However, the PGA of America must have realised what an own goal this would prove to be when the fans are having to pay so much to attend the event in New York.
Receive exclusive golf news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
