Team USA’s Ryder Cup player payment continues to dominate the narrative ahead of the 2025 event.

For the first time, the American team will be paid for their participation in the Ryder Cup. Each player will receive $500,000, with $300,000 going to charity. That said, multiple players and captain Keegan Bradley have pledged to donate the entire sum to charity.

Luke Donald’s opening ceremony speech featured multiple jabs at Team USA. “It is not about prize money or World Ranking points, it’s about pride”, said Donald. That has been a running theme coming from Team Europe throughout the week.

The topic of player payments is nothing new to the Ryder Cup. Even at the last event in 2023, Patrick Cantlay was rumoured to be protesting the players’ lack of payment by not wearing a hat throughout the tournament.

Bradley recently dismissed those rumours and was asked how he expects the New York fans to receive his team through this ongoing controversy.

Keegan Bradley welcomes ‘new era’ of the Ryder Cup

Bradley defended the decision to pay players earlier in the week, but after Donald’s speech, questions continued to be aimed his way.

This time, he was asked by BBC 5 Live Sport if Cantlay was wearing a hat at this Ryder Cup because this time, he’s being paid.

He answered, “Definitely not. I think Patrick couldn’t get a hat that fit him. We blew this way out of proportion. He got a hat that fit him this year, and he wore it today. No big deal.”