While Team USA is worried about being paid to play in the Ryder Cup, Rory McIlroy says he’d ‘pay for the privilege’ to play in the event
On Wednesday, The Telegraph in London reported that members of Team USA at the Ryder Cup will be paid roughly $400,000, and that figure is likely to be ratified. That lines up with what Golfweek reported last month, which was players on the team are set to be paid for next year’s biennial bash at Bethpage Black in New York.
When asked about this report, European stalwart Rory McIlroy said he’d pay his way to participate in the storied battle.
“I personally would pay for the privilege to play on the Ryder Cup,” McIlroy told BBC Sport after the first round of the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, where the Northern Irishman is tied for the lead with Tyrrell Hatton through 18 holes. “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.”
McIlroy then argued there are plenty of opportunities throughout the year to make money on the golf course.
“I don’t think any of the 24 players on either team needs that 400 grand,” he said. “Every two years, there are 104 weeks and 103 weeks you can play golf and get paid.”
He does, however, understand the issue, as the Ryder Cup is one of the largest revenue generators in the game.
“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.”
Luke Donald celebrates with Justin Rose, Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Matt Fitzpatrick and teammates of Team Europe after winning the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf Club in Rome, Italy. (Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
The 26-time PGA Tour winner did reveal that members of Team Europe have spoken with captain Luke Donald about the situation and have determined that the money could be used in different and more beneficial ways.
“We have all had a conversation with Luke about it over the past few weeks because we obviously heard,” he said. “The common consensus among us is that $5 million would be better off spent elsewhere on the DP World Tour to support other events or even to support the Challenge Tour.”
The Ryder Cup has long been about emotion and playing for not only your teammates but country. McIlroy doesn’t want the money to change that.
“I think we would all welcome money if it didn’t change the dynamic but the money really would change the dynamic,” he said.
“That’s why I think everyone is like, let’s not do that.”
