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GOLF fans have blasted Team USA stars for breaking a near 100-year-old tradition and accepting PAYMENT to play at the Ryder Cup.
It was recently announced that players will receive a stipend for appearing in the 98-year-old tournament.
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Each player will receive a whopping $500,000 to compete in the prestigious competition.
However, $300,000 of that fee will be donated to charities of the players’ choice.
A PGA statement read: “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.
“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.”
The $500k payment is a whopping increase from the $200K charity payment players started receiving back in 1999.
News of the massive payment hasn’t gone down well with golf fans, with one writing on X: “The sport is broken.”
Another said: “What a bloody joke.”
And another said: “Obviously, they don’t love their country like they claim they do.”
Tiger Woods recently revealed the PGA first broached players about the prospect of being paid to compete in the tournament 25 years ago.
And the golf legend seemingly isn’t a fan of players pocketing a cool $200K to represent their nation.
“The Ryder Cup itself makes so much money – why can’t we allocate it to various charities?” Woods asked.
“And what’s wrong with each player, 12 players getting a million dollars and the ability to divvy out to amazing charities that they’re involved in that they can help out?
“It’s their hometowns, where they’re from, all the different junior golf associations or endeavours that the members are involved in.
“It’s never really been about getting paid.
“It’s how can we allocate funds to help our sport or help things that we believe in back home.
“Because it’s so hard to get onto that team, there’s only 12 guys.
“What’s wrong with being able to allocate more funds?”
