World number one Scottie Scheffler would have no problem if US players were paid to compete in the 2025 Ryder Cup in Bethpage Black.
While Rory McIlroy said last month that he would pay to play in the Ryder Cup and the Team Europe stance is that the Ryder Cup is about much more than being paid, Scheffler would also play for free but wouldn’t be against his teammates receiving appearance fees.
“As far as I’m concerned, I think all of us on the American side are more than willing to play in the Ryder Cup for free,” Scheffler said.
“We’ve been playing in the Ryder Cup for free for a long time. And if they want to pay us to play in the tournament, that’s great.
“The last few years they’ve given us some money that we can give to charity, and if someone doesn’t want to take the money for themselves or if you want to give to charity, do whatever, but I don’t think there’s any problem with guys getting paid to play in the Ryder Cup,” he added.
Scheffler was the highest earner in PGA TOUR history, picking up a cool €58.7 million last season and he is guaranteed at least $150,000 if he claims the wooden spoon in this week’s 20-man Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas.
“I think it’s a little bit silly for a tournament that makes hundreds of millions of dollars to ask the players to pay as well, but I think we all would. I definitely would.”