European Ryder Cup legend Colin
Montgomerie says the fact U.S. golfers will be paid at Bethpage Black leaves a sour taste in his mouth
U.S. Ryder Cup players in Rome
European Ryder Cup legend Colin Montgomerie says news of U.S. players being paid to compete in the biennial contest leaves ‘a sour taste’ in his mouth.
The PGA of America confirmed on 16 December that the 12 American golfers who will tee it up at Bethpage Black next September will be paid $500,000.
It will be the first time in the 98-year history of the matches that either side has been paid to play.
“What we’re talking about is the evil word, money,” Montgomerie, who played eight consecutive Ryder Cups from 1991 to 2006, said.
“And it can destroy a lot of things. And I think that golf has been part of that, and we are now talking about one team getting paid to play in the Ryder Cup.
“My God, I mean, I would have paid to play in it, to have the honour to play in the Ryder Cup, never mind wanting money to do so.
“There’s something a little bit away with players being paid to play. It leaves a sour taste.
“You can’t have a competition where one team’s being paid and the other isn’t.”
Montgomerie, who who went undefeated in the Sunday singles throughout his glittering Ryder Cup career, added: “It [the money] could have been used for grassroots golf.
“It could be used for ladies’ golf, junior golf, golf in schools. That’s what I was hoping that money would go to as opposed to make the wealthy wealthier.”
It should be pointed out that of the sum the U.S. golfers will receive, $300,000 will go to charities of their choosing.
The remaining cash is being referred to as a ‘stipend’.
And perhaps rather ludicrously, the PGA of America claimed no player asked to be compensated.
Last year’s contest in Rome was marked by Patrick Cantlay not wearing a Team USA cap.
It was alleged the American was protesting about not being paid.
He denied this was the case and refused to be dragged into talking about the subject before the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas.
Slamming the ‘media narrative’, Cantlay said: “My thoughts on the Ryder Cup are really simple.
“I’m there to represent my country and I’m there to win points for my team-mates and that’s it.”
He added: “I think that’s a media narrative and I’m not going to fall into that.”
Not everyone is blasting the U.S. players.
Anthony Kim, who starred in the 2008 Ryder Cup, says there is nothing wrong with players wanting to be paid.
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