US skipper has revealed he will give his $200,000 stipend to charity but insisted it is a “personal decision”
US skipper Keegan Bradley has defended his players getting paid at the Ryder Cup for the first time – and claimed donating his $200,000 to charity is a “personal decision”.
The PGA of America voted last year to give the 12 players and the captain $300,000 each to donate to charity and a $200,000 stipend. Bradley immediately said he will donate all of his money to charity but there has been no unified team policy.
European players will again play for nothing and captain Luke Donald has claimed the home crowd could turn on their own team over money with tickets costing $750. But Bradley said: “The PGA of America came to me, they wanted to bring the Ryder Cup into the present day. The charity dollars hadn’t changed since 1999 and they asked me to sort of shepherd their way into making it into 2025.
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“I think for everyone it’s a personal decision. A lot of guys aren’t comfortable sharing what they’re going to do with their money, but we’re going to donate.”
Patrick Cantlay, who vehemently denied he refused to wear a hat in Rome as a protest at not getting paid, wore a Team USA cap in practice yesterday.
Bradley, who won the 2011 US PGA, has won over $56m on the PGA Tour. The lowest paid player on the US team this season is Xander Schauffele who has banked $3.4m. Asked why he will give away his $200,000, world No.13 Bradley said: “I think that’s a personal decision. I don’t donate to charities to publicise what we’re doing.
“These guys on our team are incredible people, and they do a lot of incredible things with charity dollars and with their foundations. A lot of them aren’t comfortable sharing that sort of information, and I feel the same way.
“I’m not concerned about what Europe does or what they think. I’m concerned about what my team is doing. I think the players are going to do a lot of good with this money, and I think it’s great. I think that the players are really good people and are going to do a lot of good things.”
Both teams have been told that President Donald Trump will attend later on Friday and will not be on the tee for the 7.10am start local time.
Team Europe wore salmon pink in practice yesterday to pay tribute to the 1987 side who were the first to win on American soil.
“History and our unity and celebrating what we’ve done in the past and the legends that have kind of come before us is really important,” said Donald.