Xander Schauffele responds to Ryder Cup pay row

Xander Schauffele has broken his silence on the controversial decision to pay American golfers for playing in this year’s Ryder Cup.

Shortly before Christmas, the PGA of America announced that the 12 members of Keegan Bradley’s side for the upcoming match at Bethpage would be financially ompensated for the first time in the 97-year history of the contest.

In addition to $300,000 to donate to charity, each player will receive a $200,000 stipend to be spent at their own discretion.

That decision has been widely condemned by fans and former players – several ex-captains amongst them – but those likely to profit from it have largely kept their counsel.

Until now.

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Speaking at The Sentry, site of this week’s PGA Tour season curtain-raiser, two-time Ryder Cupper Schauffele had his say.

The Open champion insists ALL of the money he and his fellow players receive will be donated to charity.

“I’m looking at it as an opportunity to give away more money,” said the 32-year-old. “It’s going to go to charity.

“It’s never going to be perceived that way, just with how the media talks about stuff and how things shook down in Italy.

“We’re used to playing in these team events and not getting paid and giving our portion away happily. It’s a really nice thing we can do.

“We make plenty of money throughout the year, so we’re happy to give money when we can.”

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He added: “I just see it as a whole lot of money going to charity and we’re going to take a lot of c**p,”

“Learning from the PGA Tour, we’re going to give back to the community however we can help, whether it’s the Fire Department or NYPD [New York Police Department] or you name it.”

Schauffele believes that the whole issue will benefit the match, with the Americans compensated unlike their European opponents.

“The way the whole thing is shaking down, it’s good for this big rivalry. And it’s going to be better for the Ryder Cup.

“Whenever there’s a feud, what happens? It juices everything up around it. The Ryder Cup is going to do better because of this thing.”

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