Kapalua, Hawaii — For the first time, American Ryder Cup players will receive payments for participating in the prestigious event, but team members, including Xander Schauffele, have committed to redirecting the money to charitable causes.
“I just see it as a whole lot of money going to charity, and we’re going to take a lot of crap,” Schauffele remarked during an interview on Tuesday.
The PGA of America recently voted to award each of the 12 team members and captain Keegan Bradley $300,000 to donate to a charity of their choice, along with a $200,000 stipend. However, Bradley has already pledged to donate the entirety of his payment to charity, a sentiment echoed by other team members.
Bradley revealed that the team initially planned to announce their charitable donations closer to the matches in September 2025, allowing time to finalize team selections and plans. However, an early report by The Daily Telegraph in November disclosed details of the payments, causing confusion and speculation about how the funds would be allocated.
“Our timetable got screwed up when that report came out,” Bradley explained. “We’re just trying to do the right thing—give back and make a bigger impact.”
The question of pay for Ryder Cup players has been a recurring topic since 1999, when players like David Duval and Tiger Woods raised concerns about the lack of input on the revenue generated from the event. At that time, the PGA of America introduced a $200,000 charity allocation for each player, split between a PGA of America program and a charity of the player’s choice.
More recently, controversy flared during the 2023 Ryder Cup in Italy, fueled by unverified claims that Patrick Cantlay protested unpaid participation by refusing to wear a hat. Cantlay and his teammates dismissed the rumors, emphasizing their focus on representing their country.
“When it comes to the Ryder Cup, I’m fully focused on representing my country and winning points for my teammates,” Cantlay reaffirmed.
Schauffele, the reigning PGA and British Open champion, expressed pride in the team’s commitment to giving back. “This is an opportunity to give away more money,” he said. “Keegan had a plan to get all the boys to do something really nice, but the leak threw things off.”
Schauffele emphasized that the team’s focus is on supporting local communities and causes, with Bradley leading efforts to identify impactful initiatives. “Keegan is from the Northeast, so we’re taking his lead,” Schauffele added, noting potential beneficiaries such as the NYPD and local fire departments.
The upcoming matches, scheduled for Sept. 26–28, 2025, at Bethpage Black in New York, promise to be more intense than ever. Known for its passionate fans, the venue will host the event amid ongoing debate about pay and player priorities.
“The way this has unfolded adds to the rivalry,” Schauffele said. “Whenever there’s a feud, it juices everything up. The Ryder Cup is going to do better because of this.”
Despite the controversy, the U.S. team remains focused on the spirit of the event. “We’ve played in team events without pay for years, and we’re happy to give our portion away,” Schauffele said. “We make plenty of money throughout the year, so it’s the least we can do.”
The debate, while contentious, is likely to amplify interest in the Ryder Cup and its storied history of fierce competition and camaraderie.