Last season, when the idea of paying American Ryder Cup members started to take shape, European stars Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry were among the first to raise a red flag and ask, Why do you want to be paid to represent your country? Soon, seasoned golf commentator Brandel Chamblee followed suit and targeted a specific group of (American) players, accusing them of wielding “misdirected and undue power” and treating golf as a “transactional” business.

In a recent interview on The Favorite Chamblee, he reiterated those sentiments as a warning against Scottie Scheffler & co. He accepted that the US team might have an edge (stats-wise). For example, the average world ranking for Americans is 11, while for Europeans it’s 24. The US also seems to have an advantage off the tee, with four players in the top 30 compared to three from Europe. But it may not matter at all. “When you put it all together, and you look at the talent vs the passion that the Europeans have for the Ryder Cup team. You know, heart beats talent. Almost every time,” Chamblee states in the discussion. The other problem? Making the Ryder Cup event a transactional affair. “Players have played for the honour of playing for their country and as so doing, carrying the hopes of millions of people, as you embody the values and spirit of your country on the world stage.”  But this year, the Americans are going to be paid $500,000 to represent the country.

Why make it about money at all, Chamblee asks. “Asking to be paid for the privilege of representing your country is just antithetical to the honour of it. You know, it would be like you do a favour for a friend and then afterwards you ask to get paid for it,” he adds next. “Tell me that does not dishonour the gesture. I think that will prove to be some corrupting element to the US side.”  This isn’t the first time Chamblee has taken a snipe at this. Early this month, he pointed at the European LIV pros paying millions in fines to make it to the Ryder Cup and passionately stated in a discussion, “So you’ve got the Europeans who will pay millions to be on the Ryder Cup team. And you’ve got the US team who’s asking to be paid just to play on the Ryder Cup team.”

Pros like Xander Schauffele defended it, saying early this year, “I’m looking at it as an opportunity to give away more money. It’s going to go to charity.” McIlroy, however, probably doesn’t buy that excuse. In fact, he even admitted last year that he “would pay for the privilege to play the Ryder Cup.”

This sentiment, of course, was very similar to his fellow Irish pro Shane Lowry. Lowry himself said that he didn’t care about getting paid because playing “the Ryder Cup is a privilege.” Of course, not all Americans Ryder Cuppers think the payment is necessary.

Patrick Reed calls the PGA payment for Americans “unnecessary” 

“I never played in that event and cared about playing it for money,” said Patrick Reed about the same issue at Wentworth. “It was all about playing, representing my country, and trying to win the cup.” He added that playing in the Ryder Cup is like “playing in the Olympics; once every four years, and it just means something to go out there and play for your country.” 

And that’s why he thinks, “it [payment] is unnecessary. There are certain events for which money means absolutely nothing, and that’s one of them. If you’re going to give money to players, have it all go to their charity or something like that. Do something good with it.”

The US team, including captain Keegan Bradley, will receive $500,000 for competing against Luke Donald’s European squad. The payment structure requires $300,000 to be donated to a designated charity, while the remaining $200,000 is allocated as a stipend for the players. Of course, Reed believes this payment debate may give the Europeans an edge at Bethapage Black, just as Chamblee hinted.

“They’re all eating together. The actual brotherhood and camaraderie out here, you don’t really have in the States,” he added. The Europeans have lost three of the four Ryder Cups on American soil, so it will be interesting to see if this one factor will work in their favor this time around.