The Ryder Cup is one of the most beloved and anticipated events in sports.
Contested every two years in the U.S. or Europe, the it features 12-man teams competing in a series of 28 matches over three days to determine the winner. It’s traditionally an exciting, heated, patriotic spectacle, and this year’s edition at Bethpage Black has been no exception, despite the U.S. team’s massive deficit through two sessions.
The Ryder Cup is run by the PGA of America when it’s held in the States and by Ryder Cup Europe when it’s held abroad. While exact figures aren’t made public, the biennial event reportedly generates hundreds of millions in revenue. So how much money does each Ryder Cup player take home? The answer is somewhat complicated.
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There’s no monetary amount up for grabs for whichever team wins the Ryder Cup. But this year, for the first time in the history of the event, American players are receiving a personal stipend for their participation. Since 1999, U.S. players have received $200,000 to donate to a charity of their choice. This year, that amount increased to $300,000, with an additional $200,000 tacked on for the player to spend however he wishes.
The increase is apparently a response to the controversy that emerged at the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome, when Patrick Cantlay elected to not wear a team hat, allegedly to protest the fact that the players were not compensated for their participation. Cantlay has denied this allegation, insisting the hat simply didn’t fit. Regardless, the stipend increased this year, and Cantlay is wearing a hat at Bethpage.
The Europeans, conversely, do not receive payments for their participation — a point captain Luke Donald highlighted in his remarks at the opening ceremony.
“It is not about prize money or world ranking points,” Donald said. “It’s about pride. It’s about representing your flag, your shirts, and the legacy you leave behind.”
The revenue share from each Ryder Cup, however, does provide an essential influx of funding to the DP World Tour, which is a majority partner in Ryder Cup Europe.
In addition to the payments the U.S. team members receive — and the pride at stake — players also traditionally receive gifts from their captains. For Europeans, these have included items such as personalized luggage and luxury watches. There’s also custom apparel. This year, the U.S. team was outfitted by Ralph Lauren for the seventh consecutive time, inclusive of daily uniforms and formalwear for themselves and their partners for the opening ceremony and dinner.
To find out how to watch Sunday’s action — and see if the U.S. can pull an historic comeback — click here.
