U.S. Ryder Cup gamers wave their hats towards Patrick Cantlay through the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone.
Getty Pictures
The article under is a lightly-edited transcription of video commentary concerning Tiger Woods’ feedback Tuesday on U.S. gamers being paid additional to play within the Ryder Cup. You could find the video embedded under.
Tiger Woods gave a press convention Tuesday for the primary time in 4 months, and the speaking factors have been predictable. His well being. His schedule. Negotiations with the Saudi PIF. However one matter appeared to catch him without warning:
Ryder Cup cash.
“Tiger, what’s your opinion on the opportunity of American gamers getting paid to play within the Ryder Cup,” he was requested.
He deflects. He blames the media, which he not often does. He rambles in an unorganized method. And lastly, he finishes with not one however two rhetorical questions.
Tiger is aware of that the Ryder Cup already offers $200,000 to every participant to distribute to a charitable group. What he needs is much more. A million {dollars}, he mentioned at first. 5 million {dollars}, he mentioned later, to a number of charities.
“I feel it’s nice,” Woods mentioned.
The concept isn’t new, however it’s information, by means of a Telegraph report that mentioned U.S. Ryder Cuppers are on account of earn a $400,000 stipend in 2025, they usually gained’t have to offer it to charity. (The PGA of America declined to touch upon the report.) Whereas Woods raised some attention-grabbing factors, the difficulty — on this period of athletes wanting extra money and management — is about messaging. And what Tiger ought to have mentioned is that the message from U.S. gamers may be totally different than the message being despatched from European gamers, as a result of they’re not taking part in for the very same issues.
Sixty % of the European aspect of the Ryder Cup is owned by the European Tour, the identical tour that turns a revenue solely when Europe hosts a Ryder Cup. So Rory and Rahm and Shane-O and Tommy-lad — in a giant method they’re taking part in for the sustenance of the tour they grew up watching, and proceed to play on. The Tour that lower a few of their first skilled checks a few of these guys ever earned. That’s a simple model not solely to belief but in addition to play for.
Workforce USA is representing their nation, sure, however they’re additionally representing the PGA of America, which makes use of the Ryder Cup as a large fundraiser to develop the sport by means of their very own initiatives. In comparison with the European Tour and the European group, the PGA of America merely doesn’t interface with American Ryder Cuppers practically as a lot, which leads us to moments like Tiger’s rhetorical questions.
