“Terrible analogy. Apples to oranges” – Fans enraged as PGA of America director defends ‘absolutely crazy’ Ryder Cup pricing using NBA

Fans on social media sounded off after PGA of America director Bryan Karns defended the Ryder Cup ticket price increase by comparing it to the NBA Finals. He appeared on an episode of SiriusXM Radio, where he opened up about the increased ticket pricing of the prestigious biennial tournament.

The 2025 Ryder Cup will take place at Bethpage, and the ticket price for a competition day is around $750, while that for a practice round is around $255. This marks a huge increase from last year's edition in Rome, where tickets were priced between $52.97 to $63.56.

The pricing has already sparked controversy on social media, with fans criticizing officials for the sudden hike. The PGA of America director Karns justified the pricing by comparing it to the cost of attending the NBA Finals.

"We view ourselves as a Tier 1 event that's on par with a World Series, or with an NBA Finals Game 7. That was a part of it. So when we look at pricing, we're able to tap into data from all these different venues," he said.

Nuclr Golf shared Bryan Karns' comments about the Ryder Cup ticket pricing on its X account, writing:

"#PRICED APPROPRIATELY — Bryan Karns, the PGA of America’s Championship Director defends Ryder Cup pricing."

Fans in the comments section rushed to share their opinions, with many expressing disappointment with the official. One fan called it "terrible," while another remarked that comparing the Ryder Cup with an NBA "Game 7" is "crazy."

"Terrible analogy. Apples to oranges," a fan wrote.

"Comparing the Ryder cup to a game 7 in any sport is a crazy take," another fan wrote.

"Absolutely crazy. I get that the days are multiple sessions but the cost isn’t justified. You can also get a ticket to the World Series for $100," a fan jotted.

Meanwhile, another fan took a jab at the pricing and asked if it included assurance for a "front-row seat".

"Then promise me a front row seat," another fan commented.

Yet another fan called it "greed".

"And this is why LIV now exists. GREED," a fan wrote.

Here are more fans reactions:

Fans reactions ((Image via X/@NUCLRGOLF)

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"The demand is at an all-time high for this event"- PGA at America director on the 2025 Ryder Cup

In the interview with SiriusXM, Bryan Karns opened up about the officials' decision to raise the tournament's ticket prices. He explained that its demand is at an "all-time high," so they wanted to price it "appropriately."

Karns said:

"We're able to see, 'what do people pay?'" Karns continued. "So that really drove this, too. Again, our position in this landscape [is] where do we see ourselves? I think that's the reality."

"There are people who have the Ryder Cup on their bucket list in the same way that someone would have a Yankees opening game World Series on their bucket list. Ultimately, we felt like that's where we are. The demand is at an all-time high for this event, so we wanted to make sure we priced it appropriately," he added.

The Ryder Cup is one of the most popular golf events. It takes place every two years, alternating venues between the USA and Europe. Last year, it was held in Rome, where Team Europe emerged victorious. The next edition will take place in September 2025 at Bethpage Black Course in New York.