"This is why I root for the Europeans"- Fans react as Rory McIlroy denies need for $400,000 for playing the Ryder Cup

After reports emerged that Americans would be paid for their Ryder Cup appearances in the future, European stars like Rory McIlroy have come out and said they don't necessarily want the European side to follow suit. McIlroy went so far as to say he'd "pay for the privilege to play on the Ryder Cup" team.

The Irishman also called it the purest form of competition alongside the Olympics. He said the purity was partly owed to the lack of money involved in either event. He also said he doesn't believe that any of the 24 players on either side need money, adding that there are plenty of other weeks to play and get paid.

This sparked some conversation amongst fans, many of whom were thrilled with the Irishman's stance on the issue. This comes after one unnamed European initially said they didn't want payment, and then Shane Lowry echoed that sentiment today. One fan wrote on X:

"And this is why I root for the Europeans."

"I don’t always agree with Rory, but he’s spot on with this take," one fan said.

"Not one European player wants to get paid because we love the game, yet all the Yanks want money. They’re all millionaires already, why do you need an extra 400k. Like he said, Ryder Cup is about more than money," another added.

"If they get paid, I won’t watch. I always pull for Europe anyway," one chimed in.

"He’s come a long way from young Rory," another acknowledged.

"First time Rory makes sense in a long time," one said.

"This is what’s wrong with the US guys," another added.

The European team operates under its own governing body, so the Americans' reported decision to pay players has no bearing on them. For now, it looks like USA players will allegedly earn $400,000 each.

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Rory McIlroy discusses potential payment for Ryder Cup

While Rory McIlroy doesn't want to see the Ryder Cup start paying European players, he did acknowledge the argument in favor of it. It's an argument that reportedly won out in the United States.

Rory McIlroy doesn't want to be paid to play in the Ryder Cup (Image via Getty)

The Irishman said (via BBC):

"It is one of the probably top five biggest sporting events in the world. So I get the argument that the talent should be or could be getting paid. But the Ryder Cup is so much more than that, especially to the Europeans and to this tour."

McIlroy also said that he and other Europeans have had conversations with captain Luke Donald since they began to hear the news. Ultimately, they were all in agreement on where the money should go. The golfer said:

"The common consensus among us is that $5m would be better off spent elsewhere on the DP World Tour to support other events or even to support The Challenge Tour."

Multiple Europeans have voiced their opinion on the theoretical payment, and they're not in favor of it.