Xander Schauffele of the United States and Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland on the 12th tee during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at The Los Angeles Country Club on June 17, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Image: Harry How/Getty Images)
Two-time major champion Xander Schauffele has made it clear that he won’t be accepting his pay to compete at the Ryder Cup. This comes after Rory McIlroy raised questions about Team USA’s decision to start paying those competing in the biennial competition.
The PGA of America recently broke from tradition and announced its decision to pay its competitors, despite golfers not traditionally being paid for participating in the tournament. Team USA captain Keegan Bradley was quick to declare that he wouldn’t be accepting any money, which would instead go to charity.
Schauffele seems to have taken the same stance after addressing the issue nine months out. “I just see it as a whole lot of money going to charity and we’re going to take a lot of c***,” he told reporters.
While some of Team USA’s 11 other players may be happy to accept the $500,000 (£395,000) or so on offer, the San Diego native won’t be among them. It’s understood $300,000 (£237,000) of all Team USA players’ payment will be donated; half to a PGA of America programme and the other half to a charity of the player’s choice.
The remaining $200,000 (£158,000) has been described as a stipend, though players can do with their money what they wish. The United States will host the competition this September at Bethpage in New York.
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Europe will travel across the pond this autumn as reigning champions, but they haven’t managed to win a Ryder Cup on American soil since 2012.
When McIlroy initially commented on the issue of player payments in November, the specifics for US players were still up in the air. However, he didn’t hold back in expressing his feelings on the matter, even suggesting that he would be willing to pay to participate in the competition rather than receive payment.
“I personally would pay for the privilege to play on the Ryder Cup,” McIlroy told Sport in November. He went on to describe the Ryder Cup and the Olympics as the two “purest” golf events currently being played, largely due to the absence of financial incentives.
PARIS, FRANCE – AUGUST 04: Xander Schauffele of Team United States reacts upon leaving the 18th green during Day Four of the Men’s Individual Stroke Play on day nine of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Le Golf National on August 04, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) (Image: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
“I don’t think any of the 24 players on either team needs that $400,000,” he added. “Every two years, there are 104 weeks and 103 weeks you can play golf and get paid.”
Patrick Cantlay reportedly refused to wear his Team USA hat at the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome as a protest against not being paid.
However, he later dismissed these claims as completely unfounded. Schauffele believes that the controversy over pay will only serve to heighten the excitement surrounding the competition, stating: “Whenever there’s like a feud, what happens? It juices everything up around it. The Ryder Cup is going to do better because of this thing.
“We’re used to playing in these team events and not getting paid and giving our portion away happily. It’s a really nice thing we can do. We make plenty of money throughout the year, so we’re happy to give money when we can.”