Luke Donald shares his stance on Ryder Cup’s decision to pay $200,000 to golfers: “We don’t need it”

American Ryder Cup players will begin earning a $200,000 stipend for playing in the event beginning in 2025. The European side is not following suit, and captain Luke Donald believes that's a good thing.

There has been a lot of debate over whether or not players should be paid, but the PGA of America settled that debate by allotting $200,000 to go straight to golfers.

Donald said:

"We don't need to be playing for money. The effect it has on these players, the enormity of it, the passion, you leave that week feeling like it's the best week ever. It has nothing to do with money. We haven't been paid before."

He went on to say that there's no need for another "extrinsic motivator" when there's plenty of motivation to play in the event already:

"I get the other side. But I think if you understand where the money's going and how it's being used and it's being used productively, then this one week, we don't need it."

For now, the European Tour, which is the governing body of the European Cup team, has not followed the PGA of America in handing out money to players. Many European golfers expressed their desire to remain unpaid for the event.

Rory McIlroy and others even went as far as to say they'd pay to play in the Cup. The Northern Irishman said via ESPN:

"I personally would pay for the privilege to play on the Ryder Cup. The two purest forms of competition in our game right now are the Ryder Cup and the Olympics."

He said it was mostly because money wasn't involved, but that's changing now.

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PGA of America exec opens up on paying Ryder Cup players

After months of leaks and discussions, it is finally official. The PGA of America will give every American Ryder Cup player $200,000 to do what they choose. They will also get $300,000 that must be donated to charity.

The American Ryder Cup players are being paid by the PGA of America (Image via Imagn)

PGA of America president Don Rea said in a letter to former captains (via ESPN):

"We added the $200,000 stipend out of respect for the players ... so the players could have a say in where the money goes. It's recognition for all the players have done for the Ryder Cup over the years."

Up to 12 former captains wrote a letter disagreeing with the idea that players should be paid for playing in the event, and Rea responded with the above. He also added:

"We've had so many meetings for a long time and it hasn't gone up since 1999. We're talking 25 years that it's been at $200,000. [$500,000] seemed like the right place to land. Everyone is appreciative of what the players are doing for the Ryder Cup."

The PGA officially thanked former captains and players as well.