“Not Concerned About What They Think,” Keegan Bradley DEFENDS Team USA over $500,000 Ryder Cup Payment

Team USA members will receive a sum of $500,000 ($300,000 for charity and $200,000 as a stipend) from the 2025 Ryder Cup.

“Not Concerned About What They Think,” Keegan Bradley DEFENDS Team USA over $500,000 Ryder Cup Payment

Keegan Bradley (Image via PGA Tour)

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Ahead of the 2025 Ryder Cup, USA captain Keegan Bradley defended his team. The 8-time PGA Tour winner spoke on the $500,000 payment his team will receive for the first time in this historic competition and backed the decision of the PGA of America.

Last year, reports emerged that the PGA of America was considering paying its players for their participation in this biennial tournament. Previously, the US members received a sum of $200,000 which they could donate to any charity of their choosing.

In December 2024, a major change was announced regarding it. From the 2025 edition, Team USA players will receive a package of $500,000. This includes $300,000 for charity donation, while $200,000 will be the stipend. This would make it the first time that the members of a team are being directly compensated.

This decision has caused several debates since then. During a press conference on Monday, Bradley came to the PGA of America’s defense. The 39-year-old claimed that he was not “concerned” with what others thought about the topic of his team getting paid.

Well, I’m not concerned about what Europe does or what they think. I’m concerned about what my team is doing.

Keegan Bradley said in the Ryder Cup press conference

Bradley also confirmed that he would even give away his $200,000 stipend as part of the charity. When asked if his team would follow in his footsteps regarding this, the 2011 PGA Championship winner pointed out that it is a personal decision for everyone to make.

Luke Donald slams door on Ryder Cup payment saga

On Monday, Keegan Bradley would defend the decision of the PGA of America to compensate Team USA players for the Ryder Cup. His counterpart, Luke Donald, does not seem to be pleased with it. During an interview with Sky Sports, the former World No.1 expressed that his team declined the idea of getting paid.

European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald
Luke Donald (Image via Imago)

Unlike Team USA, European golfers do not receive a single penny from this tournament. With their rivals receiving some amount for their participation, there were questions about whether the European team would ask to be compensated as well. Their answer was no.

This came up and I wanted to get ahead of it and talk to the 12 guys in Rome when it looked like the US were going to do something different with payments. Every one of them was just like ‘No, we don’t want to get paid, this isn’t a week to get paid’. We have such a strong purpose in this team and what we play for.

Luke Donald said

Donald also issued a warning to Team USA regarding this topic. With the tickets for the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Course in New York starting at $750, the Englishmen claimed that the crowd could turn on the American golfers if they do not perform well.

The 47-year-old will now be hoping to guide his team to back-to-back triumphs and defend their crown. Winning an away Ryder Cup will not be easy for him and his team.

Team Europe last tasted victory on US soil in 2012 when they scripted an incredible comeback and won in Medinah, Illinois. The next two trips have seen the Americans crush them to win the Ryder Cup.

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