We’re only days away from the Ryder Cup getting underway but once again, Keegan Bradley is fielding questions about finances.
The PGA of America will pay the Americans a hefty sum to compete in this year’s Ryder Cup, with captain Bradley already saying he and his team will donate to charity.
However, it’s a topic that hasn’t gone away for the Americans ever since the 2023 Ryder Cup, when Patrick Cantlay’s apparent complaints over lack of payment caused plenty of controversy.
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Now, with the opening tee shot just days away, Bradley has once again had to field questions as he went back and forth with reporters over the money side of things.
Keegan Bradley gives verdict on Team USA being paid to play the Ryder Cup
With suggestions that each player on Team USA will receive around $500,000, with $300,000 committed to going to charities, the topic of payment has been rife all year. Indeed, it is a decision which Tom Watson has fumed over in recent days.
There are suggestions that none of the 12 players will keep their money but until now, we’ve had nothing concrete.
Now, answering some blunt questions from the media in his Ryder Cup press conference, Keegan Bradley has had his say on the players being paid and if he agrees.
Bradley was asked specifically on the optics of the decision to pay and if he regrets it.
“I don’t really get that, but I think the goal here was that the charity dollars hadn’t been raised in 25, 26 years, and that’s what we started out doing,” Bradley replied.
“Again, we did a lot of what the Presidents Cup did, and these players are going to do the right thing and do a lot of really good with this money. You can say that, but I think that the players are really good people and are going to do a lot of good things.”
Keegan Bradley says why some USA players won’t say whether they’re donating
This press conference got pretty fiery really, with journalists keen to dig deep and see just how Bradley responded to the tough questions.
Naturally, the US skipper did his best and opened up on both why the payments had returned, as well as his own plans for the money.
“Well, the PGA of America came to me, they wanted to bring the Ryder Cup into the present day. The charity dollars hadn’t changed since 1999 and they asked me to sort of shepherd their way into making it into 2025.
“I think for everyone it’s a personal decision. A lot of guys aren’t comfortable sharing what they’re going to do with their money, but we’re going to donate,” Bradley explained when asked if the whole team will be giving to charity.
“For us, the PGA of America, this happens after the Ryder Cup, so this is something that we’ll worry about after. But ultimately, the PGA of America asked me to help out with this, and this is the best way we came up with to do it.”
Going further on the subject, Bradley was then asked why he is donating both his charity pot and stipend and if others are following suit.
“I think that’s a personal decision. I don’t donate to charities to publicize what we’re doing. These guys on our team are incredible people, and they do a lot of incredible things with charity dollars and with their foundations. A lot of them aren’t comfortable sharing that sort of information, and I feel the same way.”
Finally, Bradley then had it put to him that Team Europe play better and ultimately, the cup means more, as they don’t take money.
However, the USA skipper refuted such claims.
“Well, I’m not concerned about what Europe does or what they think. I’m concerned about what my team is doing,” he continued.
“I was tasked with a job the PGA of America asked me to do, and this was what we decided. We wanted to bring the Ryder Cup into today’s age, and we felt like this was the best way to do it. We copied a lot of what the Presidents Cup does.
“We did the best we could, and I think a lot of good is going to come from this. I think the players are going to do a lot of good with this money, and I think it’s great.”
With days to go until the first tee shot, Bradley and everyone else involved will be keen to simply get down to business and play golf.
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