US Ryder Cup stars to be paid to play

American players will be paid for competing in next year's Ryder Cup as they bid to regain the trophy at Bethpage.

The PGA of America has announced that each of the 12 players on Keegan Bradley’s side will receive $500,000, with $300,000 of the sum donated to a charity or charities chosen by each player.

The remaining $200,000 has been termed a "stipend".

The PGA of America approved the package despite saying "no players asked to be compensated".

"The players and captains, past and present, are responsible for the Ryder Cup becoming the most special competition in golf and one of the most in-demand events on the international sports scene," the PGA of America said in a statement.

"While no players asked to be compensated, the PGA of America board of directors has voted to increase the allocation to the members of the US Ryder Cup team from $200,000 to be directed to charities – a figure unchanged since 1999 – to $500,000, with $300,000 of that to be directed to the charity or charities of the players’ choice.

"The balance is a stipend.

"Golf is a long-established vehicle for good and it’s exciting to imagine the impact the members of the 2025 US Ryder Cup team will deliver for worthy causes and communities across the country, including the many initiatives that support the growth of the game."

When reports of the new compensation package first emerged last month, Rory McIlroy was one of several European players who said after the first round of the DP World Tour Championship that they did not need a financial incentive to play in the Ryder Cup.

"I personally would pay for the privilege to play in the Ryder Cup," McIlroy told reporters in Dubai.

"I have come a long way in this, especially with the Olympics, but the two purest forms of competition in our game right now are the Ryder Cup and Olympics, partly because of the purity of no money being involved."