Ryder Cup 2025: USA to pay players £400,000 for Bethpage matches

Players on next year’s United States Ryder Cup team will be paid to compete after a package was agreed by the PGA of America.

It will be the first time in the 97-year history of the matches that either side has been paid to play.

The 12 players will each receive $500,000 (£400,000), with $300,000 (£240,000) donated to a charity or charities chosen by each member of the team.

The PGA of America, which organises the event, approved the package despite saying “no players asked to be compensated”.

Six players will qualify automatically via the US Ryder Cup points list and captain Keegan Bradley will make six wildcard selections.

“The players and captains, past and present, are responsible for the Ryder Cup becoming the most special competition in golf and one of the most in-demand events on the international sports scene,” the PGA of America said in a statement.

Last year’s contest in Rome was marked by Patrick Cantlay not wearing the American team cap in what was reported to be a protest, external at the fact the players were not being remunerated to compete.

Europe’s Rory McIlroy said last month he would pay to play in the matches, which will be held at Bethpage in New York.

“I personally would pay for the privilege to play on the Ryder Cup,” McIlroy told BBC Sport.

“The two purest forms of competition in our game right now are the Ryder Cup and the Olympics, and it’s partly because of that, the purity of no money being involved.”