Team USA Ryder Cup players are set to bank $400,000 at next year’s Bethpage Black event after American authorities decided to break a 97-year tradition.
The payment narrative has rumbled on ever since Patrick Cantlay was ridiculed at the 2023 Ryder Cup for allegedly protesting against the lack of financial reward offered to the 24 players.
Now, after American authorities made a groundbreaking proposal, $5.08m will be split between the US team for the first time in the competition’s history. Clearly, murmurings of discontent have done the trick for the American side, and now, a relatively small fee will be added to what are already bulging bank accounts.
As debates emerge about whether players should be paid, let’s examine the earnings of some of the USA’s big names in 2024.
Ryder Cup row: How much Scottie Scheffler, Brooks Koepka and Xander Schauffele have earned in 2024
To put the $400,000 Ryder Cup fee into context, Scottie Scheffler banked over $62m during the 2024 season, with $25m coming at the Tour Championship.
Xander Schauffele, the USA’s next-best player, earned $18m throughout last season, and Collin Morikawa amassed over $8m.
Justin Thomas, who will likely be on the Bethpage Black team, earned $5m in what was a below-par season for the two-time major winner. Wyndham Clark, who is one of the highest-ranked American players, added $10m to his fortune.
Looking at the LIV Golf contingent, Bryson DeChambeau pocketed over $10m, and Brooks Koepka made $13m after winning the Greenbrier and Singapore events.
Clearly, the $400,000 Ryder Cup fee is equivalent to an above-average finish at an LIV Golf or PGA Tour event.
European players react to Ryder Cup twist
After the groundbreaking news emerged, those on the European side have since offered their reaction.
“I personally would pay for the privilege to play on the Ryder Cup,” Rory McIlroy told BBC Sport. 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.”
Shane Lowry is another person who has suggested that payment wouldn’t change his view on the Ryder Cup.
“It would probably be silly of me to comment on it, really. Where would I stand on it? I can only speak for myself. I don’t really care whether I did [get paid] or not, to be honest. You know, the Ryder Cup is a privilege, and it’s what I work for.
“I think, yeah, I love the tournament, and I just want to be involved. I don’t care whether I get paid or not.”
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