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Paul McGinley criticizes top American golfers as he claims decision they have made is a ‘real shame’ for golf

Photo By Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images
Photo By Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images
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The major championship season may have concluded, but there are still several tournaments remaining on the calendar for 2025.

That list includes the Ryder Cup, with the United States welcoming Europe to Bethpage Black later this month.

And already Rory McIlroy has given Europe a Ryder Cup boost, showing his prowess once more with a victory at the Irish Open last week.

His European teammates Shane Lowry and Tyrrell Hatton were also in action at The K Club, while the majority of the side will play at the BMW PGA Championship this week.

Meanwhile, Keegan Bradley’s players will take on the Procore Championship, which coincides with the BMW PGA Championship.

Rory McIlroy holding his winner's trophy at the Irish Open 2025
Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images

Paul McGinley criticizes top American golfers for disappointing decision

The Europeans will be lining out at Wentworth in England as they step up their preparations, with the Americans appearing at Silverado Resort North Course in Napa, California.

But the latest schedules of many players have caused frustration for former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley, who discussed his idea of how to grow the sport organically on Off The Ball.

READ MORE: Shane Lowry has message for Rory McIlroy after watching him win the Irish Open in thrilling fashion

“There are all these kind of initiatives about growing the game around the world and a lot of it is blah, blah,” he said.

“The biggest way of growing the game is for the superstars to get on the road and go around the world and travel.

“It’s one of my bug bears about professional golf at the moment. The players have so much leverage, they are making so much money, they can dictate their own schedules and a lot of them don’t want to leave America.

“It is a real shame because I know back in the day at the Irish Open, I know they used to pay appearance money and that’s okay.

Brooks Koepka looks on during round two of the Irish Open at the K Club
Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images

“The problem is at the top of the game the appearance money that the top players want to come and play something like the Irish Open is just astronomical that it’s just not economically viable that they are making so much money everywhere else.

“As a result, the top players, particularly the American ones, don’t come and travel enough. It’s a real shame because I think they would really enjoy it.

“I think it would be good for their games, it would be good to experience different cultures, it would be good for them to bring their families over and enjoy what we have to give on the European Tour.

“We get criticized a lot on the European Tour but culturally we are phenomenal and arguably the best tour in the world culturally and it’s a shame we don’t have more of the world’s very, very top players coming to play it.”

Which Ryder Cup players are missing the BMW PGA Championship and the Procore Championship?

McGinley’s comments come as another Ryder Cup nears, ahead of which the American team have unsurprisingly opted to stay on home soil.

But fortunately for Irish Open fans, a handful of big names were able to make the trip to Kildare, including American duo Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed.

However, all eyes and hopes were on home favourite McIlroy, who didn’t disappoint the enormous and raucous crowds at The K Club.

The DP World Tour now continues at Wentworth, with Sepp Straka the only European missing out due to personal reasons.

Bryson DeChambeau meanwhile will miss the Procore Championship on the PGA Tour due to his LIV Golf status, although he is expected to link up with his teammates off the course in Napa.

And his Ryder Cup teammate Xander Schauffele has withdrawn from the Procore Championship, with the rest of the American Ryder Cup team set to be involved.