Ryder Cup Payments: Keegan Bradley Defends PGA of America's Decision
US Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley defends PGA of America's decision to pay players $500,000 each, with $300,000 for charity. Learn more about the controversy.
“I was tasked with a job the PGA of America asked me to do, and this was what we decided...”
US Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley has defended the PGA of America's decision to increase player payments for the upcoming match against Europe at Bethpage Black. Each US player will receive $500,000, with at least $300,000 designated for charity and $200,000 as a personal stipend. This marks a significant increase from the previous $200,000 payment, which was strictly for charity and PGA of America youth programs since 1999.
Bradley emphasized that the payment boost aims to bring the Ryder Cup into today's age and mirror the Presidents Cup model, where players direct funds to charitable causes. “The PGA of America came to me, they wanted to bring the Ryder Cup into the present day,” Bradley said. “We copied a lot of what the Presidents Cup does. I think the players are going to do a lot of good with this money, and I think it's great.”
The US captain plans to donate his entire $500,000 payment to charity, but noted that each player's decision regarding their payment is personal. Bradley isn't concerned about Europe's stance on not receiving payments, stating, “I'm not concerned about what Europe does or what they think. I'm concerned about what my team is doing.” Europe's captain, Luke Donald, has expressed that payment wasn't a consideration for his team and warned that US fans might react negatively if their players don't perform well.
The PGA of America is significantly enhancing its support for players, providing each participant with $500,000. At least $300,000 of this amount is earmarked for charitable donations, allowing players to support causes close to their hearts. The remaining $200,000 serves as a stipend, giving players the flexibility to use the funds as they see fit.
This initiative, as explained by Bradley, aims to increase charitable giving and modernize the organization's offerings, which haven't been updated in 25 years. By empowering players to make a positive impact through their charitable choices, the PGA of America is fostering a culture of giving and community engagement.
US Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley revealed that the PGA of America approached him with a plan to modernize the Ryder Cup's financial structure for players. “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,” Bradley said. As a result, each US player will receive $500,000, with $300,000 designated for charity and $200,000 as a personal stipend.
Bradley plans to donate his entire stipend to charity, showcasing the team's commitment to giving back. This move contrasts with the European team, where players don't receive payment for participation. European captain Luke Donald emphasized that seeking payment wasn't a consideration for his team. Bradley isn't concerned about the differing approaches, stating, “I'm not concerned about what Europe does or what they think. I'm concerned about what my team is doing.”
The Ryder Cup is set to take place from September 26-28, 2025, at Bethpage Black in New York, with Team USA looking to avenge their 2023 defeat. The US team features top players like Scottie Scheffler, Bryson DeChambeau, and Xander Schauffele, while Europe is led by World No. 2 Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, and Tommy Fleetwood.
“I reached out to all 12 guys from Rome to see how they felt. Their voices are important. Everyone was like: 'We haven't even considered playing for money for that event.' We just don't see that.
“It speaks to what the Ryder Cup means to these guys. A couple of hundred thousand dollars to these guys isn't a lot of money in the grand scheme of things... We certainly don't need any motivation or monetary rewards to get us up.”
US Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley dismissed concerns that the payment difference might suggest the Cup means more to European players. “I don't really get that,” Bradley said. “I'm not concerned about what Europe does or what they think. I'm concerned about what my team is doing.” Bradley's focus is on his team's performance and charitable efforts, rather than comparisons to the European team.
The payment structure for the US team includes $500,000 per player, with $300,000 going to charity and $200,000 as a personal stipend. Bradley plans to donate his stipend to charity, highlighting the team's commitment to giving back.
“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.”
Bradley noted that the payment structure is similar to the Presidents Cup, a PGA Tour-backed event featuring the US against an international team (excluding Europe). In both events, players direct a significant portion of the funds to charitable causes, emphasizing the importance of giving back through golf.
“We copied a lot of what the Presidents Cup does,” Bradley said. “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.
“The players are really good people and are going to do a lot of good things.”
US Fan Backlash Over Ryder Cup Payments
US Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley has defended the PGA of America's decision to pay each US player $500,000, with $300,000 going to charity and $200,000 as a personal stipend. However, the charities receiving funds haven't been publicly designated by US players, sparking potential backlash from fans.
“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 said.
“I don't donate to charities to publicise 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.
For the first time ever the US Ryder Cup players will be paid to compete. Captain Keegan Bradley commented ahead of the playing at Bethpage:
— Flushing It (@flushingitgolf) September 22, 2025
“We wanted to bring the Ryder Cup into today’s age and we felt like this was the best way to do it.”
European players however, will not… pic.twitter.com/cMoa8hsrAI
“A lot of them aren't comfortable sharing that sort of information, and I feel the same way.”
Key Points:
- Payment Structure: Each US player receives $500,000, with $300,000 for charity and $200,000 as a stipend
- Charity Disclosure: US players haven't publicly designated the charities receiving funds
- Fan Reaction: Potential backlash from fans due to lack of transparency
- Bradley's Stance: Captain Keegan Bradley defends the payment decision, emphasizing the benefit of raised funds for charity
- European Comparison: European players don't receive payment, with captain Luke Donald stating it's “not a week to get paid”
Bradley plans to donate his entire $500,000 to charity, but it's unclear what other players will do with their stipends. The payment structure has sparked debate, with some questioning the optics of paid players versus European players competing for free.
European captain Luke Donald expects US fans might react negatively to their team receiving payments while attending the high-priced Ryder Cup. With ticket prices already around $819 for the cheapest option and merchandise costs reaching $115 for replica uniforms, Donald believes fans could turn on Team USA if they don't perform well. “If the team still manages to lose to the Europeans at Bethpage, it won't certainly won't go down well with the fans,” Donald said, highlighting the potential backlash due to high ticket prices and expensive team merchandise.
“We all know how high the ticket prices are, and it's going to be an expensive trip out for a family of four,” Donald said. “If the US players are getting paid a stipend, or whatever it is, and they aren't performing, the New Yorkers could make them know about it.”
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