World number one Scottie Scheffler is among several US Ryder Cup players who said they will donate to charity the money they are being paid to play at this week’s event following criticism over the payments.
All 12 of the American players – plus captain Keegan Bradley – are being given $500,000 (£370,000), with $300,000 (£220,000) of that already put aside as a charitable donation.
It is up to each player to decide what to do with the extra cash. Some of the American players have not yet been asked what they are planning to do. But if all 12, plus Bradley, donate the money, then charities will benefit to the tune of $6.5m (£4.8m).
Scheffler, Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele said on Tuesday they would be donating their earnings.
The $300,000 is the first rise in the charity donation since it was introduced at $200,000 in 1999.
Their European counterparts do not receive any money. When asked if a fast start by Europe this week could result in home fans’ resentment over the extra payments, captain Luke Donald replied: “That could happen.”
Bradley, who said he would be giving all his money to charity, defended the extra payment to players when he spoke to the media on Monday.
“The charity dollars hadn’t changed since 1999 and they asked me to shepherd their way into making it into 2025,” he said.
“We wanted to bring the Ryder Cup into today’s age and we felt like this was the best way to do it.
“The players are going to do a lot of good with this money.”
Former US Ryder Cup captain Tom Watson is among critics of the payment.
“I don’t agree with it,” eight-time major winner Watson said on the Golf Channel. “[In the past] they gave us some money for favoured charities. That was the right thing to do for the players.
“I just don’t think they should be paid. They should be playing for their country and their team-mates.”
Ex-European Ryder Cup player Darren Clarke has said the idea of being paid to play in the tournament “does not sit well with me”, while former European captain Paul McGinley has described the move as “a massive mistake”.