Ryder Cup 2025: Luke Donald 'proud' of Team Europe's pay stance as Keegan Bradley defends Team USA's stance for Bethpage Black

Sky Sports
Sky Sports
4M ago
The differing approaches to player compensation in the Ryder Cup highlight ongoing debates within professional golf.
Ryder Cup 2025: Luke Donald 'proud' of Team Europe's pay stance as Keegan Bradley defends Team USA's stance for Bethpage Black

Key insights

  • 1

    Team Europe's Stance: Rejecting payment emphasizes tradition and purpose.

  • 2

    Team USA's Payment Model: Introduces compensation for players, including charitable donations.

  • 3

    Debate on Ethics: Raises questions about player compensation in professional sports.

A What happened
As the Ryder Cup 2025 approaches, Team Europe, under captain Luke Donald, has made headlines by rejecting any form of payment for participation, emphasizing the event's tradition and purpose. In contrast, Team USA, represented by Keegan Bradley, will receive $500,000, which includes a $300,000 charitable donation and a $200,000 stipend. This is the first time American players will be compensated in this manner, raising questions about the implications of such payments. Donald expressed pride in his team's decision, highlighting the importance of the Ryder Cup's legacy. Bradley defended the USA's stance, asserting that the funds would be used for charitable causes and that the decision aligns with modernizing the event. The contrasting approaches have sparked a broader conversation about player compensation in professional sports.

Topics

Sports Golf

Stay ahead with OwlBrief

A daily set of high-signal briefs — what happened, why it matters, what to watch next.

Newsletter

Get OwlBrief in your inbox

A fast, high-signal digest of the day’s most important events — plus the context that makes them make sense.

A handful of briefs — before your coffee gets cold.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. We don’t sell your email.