Tiger Woods’ ex coach Hank Haney and Justin Rose have offered their thoughts on the report that U.S. Ryder Cup players will be paid in 2025.
Tiger Woods ex coach Hank Haney and European Ryder Cup star Justin Rose have offered differing thoughts on the report that U.S. players will be paid to compete in the dust-up for the very first time.
Telegraph Sport were the first to report earlier in the month the PGA of America were planning on giving each Team USA member a whopping $400,000 each when they tee it up at Bethpage Black next year.
It is understood that the proposal will be formally voted on once Seth Waugh’s successor as chief executive is named later this year.
The news of remuneration at the Ryder Cup is particularly difficult for some golf fans to digest at present given the enormous prize purses and bonuses golfers have enjoyed over the last two years since LIV’s introduction to the sport.
It also hasn’t gone unnoticed that the cost of attending the Ryder Cup in Long Island next year has jumped dramatically, with punters having to fork out $750 for a match day ticket and $225 for a practice session.
All tickets have now sold out, according to the PGA of America.
Woods’ former instructor Haney wrote on X that he wasn’t sure what ‘all the barking’ about ticket prices was about.
He added: “If they were $50, they’d still all be bought by ticket brokers and sold on the secondary markets for $1,500. Supply and demand sets prices.”
Rose’s stance is also clear, and it’s no different from his teammates.
The Englishman spoke to reporters ahead of this week’s Asian Tour event in Hong Kong.
He said the two most enjoyable moments in his career came in the form of winning an Olympic gold medal and wearing the European colours.
“They are two of my top three moments in my career and none of them have been about the financial rewards,” he said.
“I think for us, we play for the badge, and we also play for the European Tour.
“The Ryder Cup probably does underpin quite a lot of things on the European Tour and it’s a great way of supporting the tour that gave us so much early in our careers.
“If you’re doing it with that lens then that’s as great motivation as anything.”
The former U.S. Open champion also stated that the figure of $400,000 is unlikely to change the lives of the U.S. players.
“I didn’t quite get it,” he added.
Rose’s comments echo those of World No.3 Rory McIlroy.
McIlroy told media before winning a double in Dubai that the Ryder Cup has been kept ‘pure’ because no money exchanges hands.
Shane Lowry, unsurprisingly, also agreed that it’s a privilege to take part in the Ryder Cup.
“I don’t care whether I get paid or not,” Lowry said.
