Paul McGinley is among the Europeans looking to upset the Americans at this year’s Ryder Cup, which is fast approaching.
McGinley is serving as a strategic advisor to European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald at Bethpage Black this week.
Donald has retained his role as captain, and is looking to guide the European Ryder Cup team to their first away success since 2012.
His opposite number Keegan Bradley decided not to pick himself to play in New York, and will instead focus his efforts on trying to lead the hosts to Ryder Cup glory in front of their own fans.
McGinley expects Bradley to be a good captain, but he believes the home side have made a big mistake before the event even starts.
Paul McGinley thinks America have scored an ‘own goal’ before the Ryder Cup even starts
The Irishman, who guided Europe to Ryder Cup victory in 2014, was asked on Sky Sports Golf if he thinks the US have made a PR own goal by paying their players this year.
McGinley responded: “I think it is yeah, I personally do. Americans have been chasing this for a while.
“They’ve got their way eventually, players have got a lot of leverage in the game at the moment, and they forced the issue on it. So the PGA of America have let them do that.
“Our players had a different view, and collectively they all said no, prefer to see more money invested in the team and more money going back to the PGAs of Britain and Ireland as well as Europe, and of course the European Tour.
“There’s enough money that they’re all making everywhere else in the game, they took the view that Ryder Cup should be sacrosanct, should be different.
“And we want to honor also the players that came before them, who didn’t get paid as well. I think that you’d be admired for that.
“And I do think we do have the moral high ground on it. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out, if it develops as a story during the week.”
How much are American players being paid to play at the Ryder Cup?
The situation is likely to develop into a talking point this week, although hopefully it doesn’t take anything away from the golf itself.
But playing at the Ryder Cup really should be a privilege as opposed to a normal day job for those involved, particularly given how much they have already earned in their careers.
The PGA Tour of America has confirmed that the USA players will receive $500,000 to represent their team at Bethpage Black.
A total of $300,000 of that figure will be donated to charity, while the remaining $200,000 can be spent how they wish.
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