The American players will be getting paid to play at the Ryder Cup this week, and Sir Nick Faldo has offered his honest opinion on the situation.
Faldo is a legendary figure in the game, especially when the Ryder Cup is concerned, and he has the second highest points total in the history of the competition, behind only Sergio Garcia.
With six major championships, 43 worldwide victories and 11 Ryder Cup appearances throughout his career, the Englishman was a fearsome competitor, and he has carried that attitude on into life after his playing days.
Faldo has accused the US Ryder Cup team of engaging in psychological warfare ahead of the showdown with Team Europe, after they clearly displayed a banner showing the overall score upon entry to Bethpage Black, highlighting how they have dominated the competition throughout the years.
The 68-year-old was heavily involved during the build-up to the 45th edition of the team event as well.
Faldo told US Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley he wouldn’t be able to play and act as a skipper for the team.
The 39-year-old from Vermont obviously listened.
Now Faldo has given his two cents’ worth on the controversy surrounding American players getting paid to play at Bethpage.
Sir Nick Faldo reacts to US Ryder Cup players being paid and Rory McIlroy’s comments
Faldo never beats about the bush when giving his opinion on current topics in the world of golf.
Rory McIlroy is no different, and back in November he suggested that he would pay for the privilege to play in the Ryder Cup.
Patrick Cantlay caused controversy at the Ryder Cup in Rome back in 2023 when he chose not to wear a hat, apparently in protest against the US players not receiving payment.
That has all changed this year, with the United States Ryder Cup players being paid to play at Bethpage.
Each US team member will receive $500,000 this week, although $300,000 of that fee must be given to charity.
Faldo responded to that news when speaking on the Sky Sports Golf Podcast.
He was asked to give his opinion on American players getting paid to participate at the Ryder Cup.
The six-time major winner said: “I’m glad Rory said it. You play the Ryder Cup for a point. That’s the most important thing. It’s not prize money.
“It’s amazing how that makes a great player try even harder. I want a medal [at the Olympics] or when you come to the Ryder Cup, I want to win my point.
“I want to walk away from my week having done my bit, so you play with passion.
“I will say it jokingly, whoever negotiated for the American team. To think you were right unprepared, you bump five weeks off, you lost in Rome and somebody managed to negotiate even more money for them! He’s the hero! I mean, seriously.
“But I would still to this day be prepared to play for the point, not for prize money.
“We managed to get pocket money, I think we managed to get to £3,000 by the time we finished, but the first ones we probably got £30 for the week. It was nothing. But who cares? You were playing America and Jack and Tom and Trevino!“
What Rory McIlroy actually said about US Ryder Cup players getting paid
Back in November, when it first came to light that the American players would be receiving payment for their participation in the Ryder Cup, McIlroy made his feeling on the matter very clear indeed.
He said: “I personally would pay for the privilege to play on the Ryder Cup.
“It was a discussion that was happening in Rome. I can see the other side of the argument because the Ryder Cup does create a lot of revenue.
“It is one of the probably top five biggest sporting events in the world. So I get the argument that the talent should be or could be getting paid.
“But the Ryder Cup is so much more than that, especially to the Europeans and to this tour.“
The Ryder Cup is clearly hugely important to the Europeans, and that becomes obvious when you hear the likes of Faldo and McIlroy speak about the competition.
That’s not to say that the Americans don’t desperately want to win the Ryder Cup, of course they do. However, it’s fair to argue that love for the Ryder Cup is inherently woven into the fabric of every single European player.
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