Colin Montgomerie hits out at US Ryder Cup payments

Colin Montgomerie is the latest high-profile name to hit out at the decision to pay American golfers to play in the Ryder Cup.

The PGA of America announced earlier this week that the 12 members of captain Keegan Bradley’s side for next year’s match at Bethpage will receive $500,000 for making the team.

It is understood that $300,000 of that will be ring-fenced for charity with the remaining $200,000 to be spent at the player’s discretion.

The move has been widely criticised, with former US captains understood to have lobbied the PGA of America to reverse the decision.

Now, Montgomerie, who led Europe to victory in the biennial dust-up in 2010, has joined in the chorus of condemnation.

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“What we’re talking about is the evil word, money,” the eight-time European No.1 told SportsBoom. “It can destroy a lot of things. And I think that golf has been has been part of that, and we are now talking about one team getting paid to play in the Ryder Cup.”

“My God, I mean, I would have paid to play in it, to have the honour to play in the Ryder Cup, never mind wanting money to do so. There’s something a little bit awry with players being paid to play. It leaves a sour taste. You can’t have a competition where one team’s being paid and the other isn’t.”

“It could have been used for grass-roots golf. It could be used for ladies’ golf, junior golf, golf in schools. That’s what I was hoping that money would go to as opposed to make the wealthy wealthier.”

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In a wide-ranging conversation, Montgomerie also gave his take on LIV golfers, such as Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton, potentially making Luke Donald’s European side for next year’s match.

“We need them,” he added. “They are great players and they bring passion. I played with Seve Ballesteros and he had that passion and it transmits to the rest of the team.

“So all European fans will be hoping they work something out and those two players in particular are on the team.”

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor