Cash controversy rattled the Ryder Cup. Will it hit the Presidents Cup?

MONTREAL — Twenty-four Presidents Cup golfers, all of whom obtain prize cash most each different week, gained’t gather a cent this week upon conclusion of play at Royal Montreal. It says so proper there on the web site of the occasion’s backer, the PGA Tour, below “Often Requested Questions,” the place the primary one merely asks: “What’s the Presidents Cup?” 

Right here’s that reply:

“The Presidents Cup is a biennial world group competitors between the USA and an Worldwide group that represents the remainder of the world excluding Europe. The competitors alternates between venues within the U.S. and abroad. The Presidents Cup is a singular golf occasion in that there isn’t any purse or prize cash. Gamers will not be paid for his or her participation, however every competitor allocates an equal portion of the funds generated to charities of his selection. For the reason that inception of the Presidents Cup in 1994, greater than $56.4 million has been generated from occasion proceeds. Over the previous 25 years, the Presidents Cup has impacted greater than 475 charities in 18 nations worldwide. Cognizant and Rolex are the unique World Companions of the Presidents Cup.”

That reply, although, raises one other query:

Ought to gamers be paid?

In brief, it depends upon whom you ask. Most lately, the subject surfaced on the final males’s professional golf group occasion, the Ryder Cup, the place final September ideas have been shared and hats weren’t worn. Although not new, the difficulty picked up steam on the competitors’s second day, when Sky Sports activities reporter Jamie Weir reported that Patrick Cantlay was desirous to receives a commission, that he was refusing to put on a hat in protest and that the U.S. locker room was fractured. From there, issues snowballed. U.S. gamers balked on the report. Followers at Marco Simone, the host website, mockingly waved their very own caps. A day later, Stefan Schauffele, the daddy of American Xander Schauffele, spoke at size about all of it to GOLF’s Dylan Dethier, saying, “They’ll donate all proceeds after opening the books to a charity of our joint selection, after which we’ll fortunately play at no cost. Please print that.”

Within the months since, the dialog has continued. Notably, the governing our bodies of the Ryder Cup — the PGA of America on the U.S. facet, and the DP World Tour on the European facet — gather tens of millions from the occasion and distribute the money to their varied occasions and applications, with gamers given charitable donations of $200,000 apiece. (It’s right here the place it is best to learn one other splendidly reported story, by GOLF’s Jessica Marksbury, on Ryder Cup cash.) One notable observer, Paul McGinley, who performed in 4 Ryder Cups for the European facet and captained one other, believed that was lots, providing greater than a three-minute thought on the topic, on an look final October on the 5 Golf equipment podcast, the place host Gary Williams requested McGinley this:

“The whiff of compensation, it’s not new. You’ll be able to return to the late ’90s, clearly [Mark] O’Meara, [David] Duval. Do you assume compensation shall be a part of the story not less than on the American facet by 2025? And do you assume the Europeans will completely cross on the thought of getting paid?”

In response, McGinley mentioned no, the People alone shouldn’t be paid — nor ought to any Ryder Cupper.

“Personally, I hope it will get to a spot the place neither group is paid as a result of I believe the cash that high skilled golfers earn in the mean time is big on so many alternative ranges,” mentioned McGinley, who’s at Royal Montreal this week as a part of Golf Channel’s protection. “They’re all arrange for all times, it doesn’t matter what. When you make a Ryder Cup normal these days, you’re arrange for all times anyway, whether or not or not it’s via your pension fund or whether or not or not it’s within the prize cash you’ve earned. I believe for one event each two years it will be nice to provide again. 

“On the European facet, the DP World Tour wants the income from the Ryder Cup. So it’s serving to all the guys who’re coming via. It’s placing occasions on the Problem Tour. It’s placing on first rate prize funds on the DP World Tour. And that’s actually necessary for us. It’s a lifeline for us. And on the American facet, it’s the 28,000 PGA professionals round America and giving cash to them in order that they’ll convey younger girls and boys into the sport and create the long run Patrick Cantlays or future Justin Thomases or no matter. An enormous quantity of funding goes again into it. 

“So I believe each side are honorable when it comes to what they’re attempting to do with the revenues that are available. It’s not like some wealthy non-public fairness firm is taking the cash and operating off into the sundown and giving it to shareholders. That is cash that’s going again on each side again into the sport. It’s going again into the ecosystem on each side that has churned out these gamers within the first place. So I believe for one event each two years, with all the cash that’s within the recreation in the mean time and so crass the amount of cash that’s put to the entrance within the conversations round golf, I believe it will be a beautiful narrative for the way forward for the Ryder Cup if it was not about cash and it was in regards to the 24 gamers being consultant, serving to each ecosystems that made them who they’re.”

So the place do issues stand this yr on the Presidents Cup, the place 12 American gamers (eight of whom have been on final yr’s Ryder Cup group) meet 12 Worldwide gamers (‘worldwide’ which means gamers outdoors of Europe)? Under is a small sampling of ideas, beginning with Schauffele, who was requested whether or not gamers ought to get prize cash within the Presidents and Ryder Cups, why or why not:

“That query is a little bit of a grenade, to be trustworthy,” he mentioned. “I believe there’s no place for a participant to speak about prize cash on this kind of occasion. That’s for different folks to resolve. Our choice is our choice. We’re right here and we’re completely satisfied to play amongst one another and characterize our nation.

“It’s such a scorching subject, however I believe it’s fairly brutal to ask any participant that as a result of there’s no proper reply a participant may give you.”

On Wednesday, three different People — Max Homa, Wyndham Clark and Keegan Bradley — have been additionally requested the query. Homa and Clark performed on final yr’s Ryder Cup group, whereas Bradley is the captain of subsequent yr’s Ryder Cup squad. 

Stated Homa: “I don’t know. I haven’t actually spent a lot time fascinated with it. … Yeah, I may play satan’s advocate to each. One, like these occasions make a ton of cash and we’re on TV taking part in the golf. However on the opposite facet of the coin, I believe we have now been given a lot as skilled golfers and to get to do that is about as enjoyable as you’ll ever have. So to do it at no cost can also be superb.

“I get everybody’s viewpoint. I don’t assume it ought to ever actually be a hot-button subject. I don’t assume it’s the tip of the world both manner. I get why there’s — why it might probably turn out to be a speaking level. I simply don’t assume that it’s a large difficulty both manner.”

Stated Clark: “That’s a tricky query. , right here’s what I’ll say: I do know that representing Group USA is an incredible accomplishment, and we’re all very lucky to have the ability to do this.

“With that mentioned, I believe there’s some huge cash that’s being made at these occasions. , there’s arguments each methods. All I’ll say is that if Presidents Cup or Ryder Cup goes and makes a couple of 100 million and we’re not getting something from it, it appears a bit of unfair. However on the similar time, I simply really feel blessed to be on this group. I am going to the Olympics and there’s no cash and I really feel honored to play for Group USA. Actually, I’m form of staying within the center. I get each side. I’m simply completely satisfied to be right here.”

Stated Bradley: “I believe fortunately these choices aren’t as much as me. I believe we’d all do it at no cost. I believe we’re, we like to characterize the USA, what the long run holds. There’s some huge cash to be made in these occasions for everyone, and in the event that they resolve that’s one of the best ways to do that, then that’s nice.

“These guys don’t — we wish to go on the market and play and win this factor. Whether or not it was for some huge cash or no cash, we’d present up.”

Requested the query on the Worldwide facet have been Adam Scott, who this week is making his eleventh Presidents Cup look; and Mackenzie Hughes, who’s making his first. To notice, Worldwide gamers play biennially, whereas the U.S. performs a group occasion every year. 

Stated Scott: “Nicely, in a roundabout manner, we form of all the time have benefitted, whether or not it’s with a charitable donation or one thing. And I believe whether or not it’s prize cash or a charitable donation, that’s a large enough gesture for the gamers. 

“We’re skilled golfers. However there’s a steadiness, as effectively. , we do very effectively on the PGA Tour with prize cash. , there’s components of giving again, whether or not it’s truly giving again charitable {dollars} or giving again by displaying up and never competing for prize cash for every week. All of it needs to be a good steadiness, is what I believe, and I believe we’re at a spot the place that’s superb.”

Stated Hughes: “I don’t assume so. It’s onerous from my perspective as a result of once more, I’d personally do it as a result of I like these competitions. I like the sport. So when you mentioned, hey, you must pay to play on this, I’d like to pay to play on this. However there can be guys, I’m certain, on the opposite facet which have gained a number of majors and perhaps really feel like they should be paid to be right here. I by no means really feel that manner. I really feel prefer it’s an honor that doesn’t want to return with any financial worth.

“All my reminiscences from this week are going to be the group room, taking part in with my teammates, taking part in for Mike, and that was actually why I wished to be right here was to play for Mike, to play in Canada, to have these reminiscences. That’s price extra to me than something you possibly can pay me.”

Opinions, it’s secure to say, have been numerous.

Throughout his pre-event press convention on Tuesday, Cantlay wasn’t requested in regards to the topic, although Sunday, his Instagram account posted its affection for this yr’s clothes provider, saying: “Thrilled that my mates @bdraddy + @zerorestriction have been chosen because the official clothes companion for this yr’s @presidentscup. They knocked it out of the park with these uniforms – let’s go [American flag emoji]!” It also needs to be famous that Cantlay is one among six gamers on the PGA Tour’s Coverage Board, and as talked about earlier, the Tour runs the Presidents Cup.  

U.S. captain Jim Furyk, in the meantime, had this change on Tuesday with the Related Press’ Doug Ferguson, who requested:

“How did you get Cantlay to put on a hat this week?”

Stated Furyk, “We lastly had one which had that odd of a form that it will truly match on there.”

He added: I believe a whole lot of it’s our distributors. He wore a hat two years in the past in Charlotte. We had the identical distributors on the PGA Tour, and he appears to be comfy. If my guys are comfy in hats, they’ll put on hats. In the event that they’re not comfy in hats, it doesn’t matter.

“It doesn’t work out too effectively for me, I’ll simply say. [Here, he partially lifted his hat to show his absence of hair.] My head will flip purple after a day, however I need them comfy. I believe we’d each say that the clothes this yr, my guys adore it.”

Stated Worldwide captain Mike Weir, seated to Furyk’s proper: “Yeah, similar. The fellows are completely satisfied.”

“Guys are comfy this yr,” Furyk mentioned, “which is very nice.”

Nick Piastowski

Golf.com Editor

Nick Piastowski is a Senior Editor at Golf.com and Golf Journal. In his function, he’s chargeable for enhancing, writing and growing tales throughout the golf area. And when he’s not writing about methods to hit the golf ball farther and straighter, the Milwaukee native might be taking part in the sport, hitting the ball left, proper and quick, and ingesting a chilly beer to clean away his rating. You’ll be able to attain out to him about any of those matters — his tales, his recreation or his beers — at nick.piastowski@golf.com.