Americans compensated for Ryder Cup participation for the first time

Each individual is set to receive a total of 500,000 US dollars, divided into 300,000 dollars earmarked for charitable donations and a 200,000-dollar stipend.

Captain Keegan Bradley confirmed his commitment to donate the full amount of his compensation to charity. He hinted that the entire team might follow suit, though formal announcements are expected closer to the 2025 Ryder Cup.

"We're just trying to do the right thing," said Bradley.

"This is ultimately a PGA of America decision. All we want to do is give more back and make more of an impact."

This marks a significant shift in the Ryder Cup tradition, where players historically participated without direct monetary compensation.

The debate over pay-for-play dates back to 1999 when David Duval, Tiger Woods, and Mark O'Meara raised concerns about players having no control over the revenue they generated for the PGA of America.

As a result, the organisation previously agreed to allocate 200,000 US dollars per player to charity, divided equally between a PGA programme and a player-selected cause.

The discussion resurfaced during the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome when rumours claimed Patrick Cantlay protested unpaid participation by forgoing a hat. Cantlay and his teammates denied the allegations, dismissing them as baseless.

Earlier reports suggested a compensation figure of 400,000 dollars, but specifics on the division between charity and stipend were clarified only recently, aligning with evolving expectations of player recognition.