It’s safe to say that the PGA of America’s decision to announce they will pay Team USA players for the 2025 Ryder Cup has caused quite the stir in the world of golf.
Breaking a tradition spanning a century and more, Team USA will be paid around $400,000 each to compete in the next edition of the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black.
Of course, the matter has caused plenty of conversation in the professional game as well, with a number of top players being asked their opinion on the matter while playing in Dubai at the DP World Tour Championship this week.
Shane Lowry has admitted he’s no interest in being paid, while going further, Rory McIlroy has said that he’d even be willing to pay to play.
Speaking about the USA’s decision, McIlroy bullishly backed Team Europe’s call not to follow suit.
“I personally would pay for the privilege to play on the Ryder Cup. The two purest forms of competition in our game right now are the Ryder Cup and the Olympics, and it’s partly because of that, the purity of no money being involved,” McIlroy said.
“I don’t think any of the 24 players on either team needs that 400 grand. Every two years, there are 104 weeks and 103 weeks you can play golf and get paid.”
Of course, McIlroy is very much the poster boy of the European game and when he speaks on important matters, people take notice.
And over on social media, golf fans have rallied behind McIlroy and fully backed his stance on the matter.
Golf fans are all backing Rory McIlroy after his comments about Team USA and Ryder Cup payments
As always, X is the place to be for the reaction from fans around the world and it’s safe to say McIlroy has secured a majority here when it comes to backing.
One fan admitted he didn’t always see eye to eye with McIlroy, but on this one, he very much did.
While another fan backed the stance with similar comments.
Another fan, @RomfordTipster, suggested this proved that the Europeans play for the love of the game more than their American counterparts.
“Europeans own Americans. Not one European player wants to get paid because we love the game, yet all them want money. They’re all millionaires already, why do you need an extra 400k. Like he said, Ryder Cup is about more than money”
While @Zidan0501 added that he found the decision from the US ‘laughable’.
“Laughable from the US team if true. $400k when they’ve likely earned $10m plus the other 51 weeks of the year… what’s the point? Better the PGA took that $4.8m and put it into grass roots golf or charitable giving”
@JSBroker went one further than some as well, suggesting that ALL the profits be paid to charities.
“Great take by Rory. I would add that it shouldn’t be a for profit event either. All proceeds after the bills have been paid should be spread around to the local charities.”
While another fan, @the_rocket33 suggested it’s high time the volunteers got some of the money.
“Volunteers should be paid in all events if the players want more money. Money being the issue why are volunteers having to work and pay for uniforms etc?”
It seems, then, that McIlroy has struck a chord with many of the golfing world here and that come the tournament next Autumn, Team USA could well be facing a backlash from supporters on the fairways.
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