The United States made a significant change in allowing the Ryder Cup golfers to get paid, while Europe’s athletes will continue to play for free. Team USA golfers are technically getting paid $500,000 total, but $300,000 is required to be donated to charity, per ESPN.
This means the United States golfers are being paid $200,000 to use (or save) however they see fit. Team Europe will continue to play the Ryder Cup for free.
The United States golfers have faced criticism, including from Team Europe, for being paid during an event some fans perceive as designed to show pride in your country.
U.S. players receive:
$300k to a charity of their choice $200k stipend (for whatever they want)
“Well, I’m not concerned about what Europe does or what they think,” United States captain Keegan Bradley told reporters on September 23, 2025. “I’m concerned about what my team’s doing. I was tasked with a job the PGA America asked me to do and this is what we decided. And we wanted to bring the Ryder Cup into today’s age. And we felt like this is the best way to do it.
“We copied a lot about what the President’s Cup does, and we did the best we could. And I think a lot of good is going to come from this. I think that the players are going to do a lot of good with this money, and I think it’s great.”
Team Europe Unanimously Decided Not to Get Paid, Says Captain Luke Donald
Luke Donald says he’s proud of his European team after they rejected the chance to be paid for playing in the Ryder Cup 🗣️
Team Europe captain Luke Donald seems to view things a bit differently. Donald revealed that the European team unanimously decided not to play for money.
“I wanted to get ahead of this when I first heard about it last year and looked like it was likely going to happen,” Donald said, per ESPN.
“I reached out to all the 12 guys from Rome to see how they felt. Their voices are important. Everyone was like: ‘We haven’t even considered playing for money for that event.'”
Luke Donald on Comments About Ryder Cup Earnings: ‘It Wasn’t Directed at the U.S.’
Some American golfers, like Bradley, have already revealed they plan to donate the full amount to charity. There remains backlash that United States golfers are wrong for receiving any payment for an event traditionally celebrated for representing one’s country.
Both sides insist they are not worried about how the other team handles payments. Donald insisted his remarks were not intended to take a shot at Team USA.
“It wasn’t directed at the U.S.,” Donald noted days later, via ESPN.
“My speech was directed at my players. I wrote that speech six months ago. We have been very consistent where we stand and what we play for. We’re not concerned about what the U.S. are doing.”
As for Bradley, the United States captain dismissed the idea that American golfers getting paid to participate in the Ryder Cup is bad optics. Bradley pointed to all the charitable efforts the Ryder Cup golfers will pursue.
Paid or unpaid, the thing that fans will remember most is who raises the trophy. The United States entered the tournament as the favorite to win, but Team Europe is aiming to pull the upset.
Team USA Faces Backlash for How Much Money Ryder Cup Golfers Are Being Paid