Farmingdale, N.Y. — As members of the U.S. Ryder Cup are expected to be compensated for the first time in the event’s history, world No. 1 Scotty Scheffler and some of his teammates have said they are planning to donate their entire salary to charity.
“We never announced what we were doing. We don’t like giving charity dollars for some sort of recognition,” Schaeffler said Tuesday. “There are things that are planned for the money we receive. I think it’s really cool that the American PGA has empowered us.”
US Captain Keegan Bradley said on Monday that the American PGA approached him last year with the idea of compensated players, asking him to help come up with the best approach. In November, the PGA of America voted to donate a $200,000 scholarship to charities of their choice by offering $300,000 to 12 players and Bradley, and donate a $200,000 scholarship to spend as desired.
Bradley said he doesn’t understand criticism that players are being paid, but European captain Luke Donald has said many times that he rejected the idea that European players would be paid to participate in the event.
“Each of them was like, ‘This isn’t a week to get paid,'” Donald said Monday in an interview with Sky Sports. “We have such a strong purpose for this team and us to play.”
Two-time leading winner Xander Schauffele said he also plans to donate his salary to charities and downplay the chatter surrounding the money.
“You guys keep talking about it and trying to make it this negative. It’s anything that everyone is seeing,” Schaufele said Tuesday. “There’s a lot of pride to playing in one of these. Yes, we’re happy to receive a reward for this. Yes, I’m going to donate it.
In December, Schauffele told The Associated Press that despite the new structure, plans are not for players to get a single dime.
“I think it’s a lot of money to go to charity. We take a lot of crap,” Schaufele told the Associated Press.
Ryder Cup compensation was a topic of many discussion that dates back to the 2023 event in Rome. Patrick Cantray was asked Tuesday about his role in paying players by the PGA of America, but declared that he was not involved.
“I wasn’t part of that decision-making process. I don’t think it was any of the team members,” Cantray said. “I can only talk about what my plans are.”
Cantrey said he also plans to donate all his salary to certain charities that are meaningful to him.
As for the topic of the 2023 report, he didn’t wear a hat in Rome as a protest against his lack of compensation, Kantrey said he didn’t fit in 2023 and that he received something that fits in this year.
“This event is so good at generating a lot of noise that it doesn’t help you post points on the board,” Cantray said. “I think we need to focus on playing the best golf possible and focus on making noise exactly what it is.”