The Ryder Cup stipend controversy for Team USA has stirred ongoing debate among fans, insiders, and even the European squad. The issue, reignited after Luke Donald’s opening speech, has drawn attention from the LPGA circuit as well. Former star Mel Reid and others aren’t defending the payment but are offering a deeper perspective on the matter — one that goes beyond the surface of financial fairness.

On the Quiet Please podcast, hosts Kira Dixon and Mel Reid discussed the $500,000 Ryder Cup stipend for Team USA players — split into $300,000 for charity and $200,000 for personal use. Dixon noted that while players can donate the full amount, the sum means little to top pros and only fuels criticism about Team USA’s commitment and collective pride.

“My question is — $200,000 to these guys is nothing. It’s a drop in the bucket. It means nothing to them. Why create all of this hoopla and craziness over $200,000, just for the principle of it, when the PGA of America could just say: we are going to expense it, cover it, we’ll cover it — like it’s part of being on the team,” Dixon said on the podcast.

The retired LPGA pro, Mel Reid, agreed with Dixon’s take. “Even in the Solheim Cup, we get all of our flights paid, all of our hotels, we get an allowance — a tiny, tiny allowance — but your family is taken care of. Immediate family is taken care of. They get gifting,” shared Reid. “And I’m just thinking to myself: you guys are so spoiled yet again, and you want more? It pisses me off. Like, it really pisses me off.”

Comparing the event with the Solheim Cup, the women’s equivalent, Reid explained what the team could have done instead. She believes that the PGA of America could have just covered the expenses for the American golfers, like they do for the Solheim Cup players. However, the board’s decision to hand out a stipend of $200,000 allows the European team to stir the pot against Team USA. Adding to her frustration, this entire decision affects the reputation of American golf, when the Ryder Cup has always stood for national pride. That gives it enough reason for a second time.

Instead, the Ryder Cup turned out to be a total disaster for the US Team. From a crushing defeat at home soil to debates over the US crowds’ concerning behaviour, this edition became a humiliating run for Bradley’s squad. The controversies and arguments over this debate added to the frustration, with the European Captain taking the lead.

In his opening speech, Luke Donald emphasized the shallow nature of the US team’s profit-driven approach, comparing it with Team Europe’s camaraderie and patriotism. While the ladies acknowledged the charitable implications, Dixon couldn’t help but suggest the adjustments for the Solheim Cup.

Dixon suggests that would have been miles better than “putting themselves in the line of fire of potential media issues — and then giving Luke Donald the ammunition to say what he wants to say in his literal opening speech.”

To this LPGA veteran, Reid agreed. She believes that the stipend creates unnecessary PR problems, highlighting the harm that this insignificant sum causes. Posing the golfers as “spoiled,” Reid fails to understand the necessity of this decision. In fact, the LPGA pro has often spoken out against the heavy reliance on financial incentives in men’s golf.

Mel Reid has a strong take on the men’s profit-driven golf environment

The debate over the American team’s financial incentives underlines a deeper issue in men’s vs. women’s golf. While it sparks conversations about national pride, Mel Reid also makes a point about the gender pay gap. That sentiment was clear from the exchange on her podcast, as she said, “I didn’t like that at all. I’m pretty outspoken about that.” This comment is not specific to the Ryder Cup, but her past comments on the gender disparity of the sport as well.

In 2019, speaking about inequality in golf, Reid said, “If I’m completely honest, I think it’s getting worse.” That remark doesn’t come from nowhere. Despite being a six-time European Tour winner, Reid struggled to secure sponsors, as these companies didn’t support women’s golf. That contrasts with men’s golf, where the golfers get free equipment and gear. “I think girls are scared to come out and name companies because what we get given is already so fragile. We have a lot more to lose by being outspoken,” explained Reid.

More recently, in 2023, the AIG Women’s Open introduced a $9 million purse and long-term sponsorship. While that gave Reid hope of improving conditions, she remained skeptical that the gap would ever close. “The men’s game has gone absolutely ridiculous. Catching up with them is going to be a heavy feat. I don’t know if it will ever happen,” added Reid.

With the Ryder Cup incentives in place now, the picture keeps shifting to the men’s side. While Reid doesn’t demand a similar stipend for the Solheim Cup, prioritizing prestige over money, the disparity is apparent. However, this time it is about much more than the gender pay gap. It is about the board’s reputation. Will that affect the stipend decision?