The merchandise tent is always a decent place to start when assessing the commercial vulgarity associated with modern-day Ryder Cups. At Bethpage, they are flogging 24-carat gold coins – 100 were available on Tuesday morning, presumably still are now – with Keegan Bradley’s signature attached. The price? $7,500 (£5,500). There must be an assumption Ryder Cup fans leave their senses at the gates.
Money. The one subject the US Ryder Cup team would rather is not discussed this week and the theme that Europe are more than happy to promote. As soon as it was confirmed the US team members would be paid $500,000 a head to play at Bethpage – $300,000 must be given to charity, the rest is a stipend – half of Luke Donald’s team talk was written. Europe play for their cause, their tour, their big picture. The US? Now quite easily portrayed as obsessed with dollar signs. Twelve players, $2.4m, zero caveats.
Last week, the Guardian contacted the representatives of all dozen US players to ascertain whether the “extra” $200,000 would also be donated to a charitable cause. Only one saw fit to reply, Patrick Cantlay’s representative explaining his client’s desire to assist “educational development for children of military veterans and first responders”. Cantlay spoke directly on the same theme on Tuesday morning. It is curious given the obvious optics of this situation that agents have no apparent desire to publicly manage the subject.
Bradley has confirmed all of his $500,000 will go to charity. Xander Schauffele plans the same. So, too, does Scottie Scheffler albeit the world No 1 was irritated to be asked about his approach here. “I don’t know if we’ve met before,” Scheffler said to his questioner in what is now a regular, passive‑aggressive tone. “But my wife and I, we like to do a lot of stuff in our local community and I’ve never been one to announce what we do. I don’t like to give charitable dollars for some kind of recognition.
“We have something planned for the money that we’ll be receiving. I think it’s a really cool thing that the PGA of America has empowered us to do. I have a deep passion for the city of Dallas, I have a deep passion for the organisations that we support at home and I’m excited to be able to take this money and be able to do some good in our local community.”
Beyond this small contingent of players, it is totally unclear where the funds will go. The weird lack of focus from the American media means it would be perfectly easy for golfers to spend their $200,000 on fast cars or living room furniture. Stranger still is that $200,000 represents chump change to the world’s leading golfers.
Had the overriding idea been to increase Ryder Cup charitable contributions, or even for players to choose specific causes, there was nothing to stop $500,000 per player being designated accordingly. Instead, there is ambiguity and the chance for Europe to go one‑up in the eyes of a watching public.
The European team, it must be recognised, are no paupers. If he has not done already, Donald will soon make hundreds of thousands from speeches at leadership seminars. Golfers are typically given bonuses from their sponsors for Ryder Cup participation. The sweaters Team Europe will wear at Bethpage retail for about £2,000.
Donald, though, understandably plays on the sense of moral high ground. He had given the European team the option of receiving payment, one that was universally rejected. “I was very proud of the guys,” Europe’s captain said. “The ideals of the Ryder Cup was set up back in the 1920s by Samuel Ryder and I think he would have been proud, too.”
Forecasts for thunderstorms at Bethpage on Thursday have forced the Ryder Cup’s organisers to move the event’s opening ceremony to Wednesday.
Both captains, Keegan Bradley and Luke Donald, will still announce their pairings for Friday’s first session on the eve of the tournament. There is, however, the possibility of Bethpage being closed to spectators for at least part of Thursday.
While weather for tournament days on Long Island is currently predicted as reasonable, Thursday is problematic. The PGA of America reacted to that situation on Tuesday afternoon. In a statement, they said: “Due to the forecast of inclement weather on Thursday, September 25, the Ryder Cup opening ceremony has been moved to Wednesday, September 24. The opening ceremony pre-show will begin at 3 pm with the opening ceremony set for 4 pm.
“Ryder Cup+ ticket holders for Thursday will now be admitted both Wednesday and Thursday.
“US captain Keegan Bradley and European captain Luke Donald will announce Friday morning's pairings as planned at 4 pm Thursday at a location to be determined.” Ewan Murray
Bradley portrays the financial issue as one aimed at bringing the Ryder Cup into the 21st century. Nobody knows what sporting event he is using by way of comparison. It is safe to say the PGA of America’s officials did not decide one morning to bestow millions of dollars on players. Instead, the impetus came from the golfers themselves.
“I’m not concerned about what Europe does or what they think,” Bradley said. “I’m concerned about what my team is doing. I was tasked with a job the PGA of America asked me to do and this was what we decided. We copied a lot of what the Presidents Cup does.
“We did the best we could and I think a lot of good is going to come from this. I think the players are going to do a lot of good with this money and I think it’s great.”
Bradley may well be right. What is undeniable, though, is the pursuit of payment has added a dynamic to the Ryder Cup that the US will regret if Europe prevail in New York.
