Farmingdale (United States) (AFP) – American golfers Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay said Tuesday they plan to donate all money they receive from playing in the Ryder Cup to charity, hoping to quiet “noise” over the matter. United States captain Keegan Bradley has defended his players being paid $500,000 by the PGA of America to compete, most of the funds designated for charitable donations. It’s a contrast with Europe players, who stressed to captain Luke Donald they wanted no money for playing in the event, which will be contested for the 45th time starting Friday at Bethpage Black.
“This event is very good at generating lots of noise and that’s not going to help any of us put points on the board,” Cantlay said. “We need to put 100% of our focus on playing the best golf we can and let the noise be exactly what it is, just noise.” Cantlay was accused in 2023 in Rome of not wearing a US team cap as a protest about not being paid to play in the Ryder Cup, while he said it was simply a sizing issue. “The hat didn’t fit last year and this year we worked with them to make sure we had one, and we got one, so we’re good,” Cantlay said.
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Since 1999, US players had received $200,000 designated for a player’s chosen charitable donations for competing in the Ryder Cup. In a bid by the PGA of America to update charity giving, they boosted the amount given to US team members this year to $500,000, with $300,000 designated for charitable giving and $200,000 as a personal stipend to use however they see fit. Bradley, Cantlay, and Schauffele are donating their stipend to charity and don’t see the money as a reflection of how much Europe players love the Cup compared to Americans.
“There’s a lot of pride that comes into playing in one of these, and yes, we’re happy to get paid for this, and yes, I plan on donating it,” Schauffele said. “It’s something that selfishly will make me feel good about what I do.” Schauffele does not see a negative perception among US supporters regarding the money. “You guys keep talking about it and trying to make it this negative thing,” Schauffele said. “I don’t think I’d be sitting up on this stage if I didn’t have a positive attitude and I try to look at this in the most positive of lights as possible — an opportunity to do some good, which isn’t always the case. If we’re able to impact some of the local communities and charities, I think that’s what should happen.”
– ‘It means a great deal’ –
Cantlay stated that US golfers are fully committed to the Ryder Cup. “The US guys are 100% focused on playing the best possible golf they can,” Cantlay said. “I know it means a great deal to them to show up this week and perform.”
One of the great things about these team events for me is there’s always such a big charitable component to it, and so I’m going to donate the money to my charity,” Cantlay added, citing foundations for junior golf and children’s causes. Asked if the entire $500,000 should go to charity, Cantlay said, “I wasn’t a part of that decision-making process. I don’t think any of the team members were. I can only speak for what my plans are.”
Top-ranked Scottie Scheffler might be donating his stipend as well, although he did not specify. “My wife and I, we like to do a lot of stuff in our local community and I’ve never been one to announce what we do,” top-ranked Scottie Scheffler said. “I don’t like to give charitable dollars for some kind of recognition. We have something planned for the money that we’ll be receiving.”
© 2024 AFP
