Bethpage Ryder Cup Ignores Backlash As Seats Get Sold Out Amid Team USA’s Money Move

Remember earlier this year when ticket prices for next year’s Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black were revealed? They definitely didn’t go unnoticed. The announcement created a lot of buzz among golf fans, and it wasn’t the “we can’t wait” kind of excitement—it was outrage. Fans were shocked to see the prices: to attend just one of the three main competition days would set you back a hefty $750 per person. Even practice days were going for $255. With prices like that, many people assumed the galleries might be a little quieter than usual next year.

But then, a plot twist. The PGA of America recently put out a statement that, despite the eye-watering prices, demand for Ryder Cup tickets has been overwhelming. Over 500,000 people registered for the ticket, and they had ticket requests flooding in from across the U.S. and 47 other countries, with more than 2,500 transactions just from Europe. And yes, match day tickets? Completely sold out.

Turns out, for many fans, the chance to be part of the Ryder Cup action was worth every penny. Now, all that’s left are practice day tickets, and anyone hoping for match day access will have to hunt in the resale market.

Considering major golf events are run by a free workforce of volunteers and the changing landscape of name, image, and likeness usage in American sports, the 2025 ticket prices will only give more fodder to critics that the PGA of America may need to start sharing the massive amounts of profit its make from the biennial match. Now this brings us to the question, will the American player participants benefit from all this?

Considering major golf events rely on a free workforce of volunteers and the evolving landscape of name, image, and likeness rights in American sports, the high 2025 Ryder Cup ticket prices only add fuel to the argument that the PGA of America might need to start sharing some of its considerable profits from the biennial event. This brings up a crucial question: with all the revenue being generated, will American player participants finally see a share of these earnings?

Will U.S. team players get paid?

It was only last year that rumors started circulating about American players asking whether they should be paid for participating in the Ryder Cup. Currently, players don’t receive direct payment for competing, although each player is given $200,000 to donate to charities of their choice. But after Xander Schauffele reportedly faced the threat of dismissal from the U.S. team over issues with the player benefit agreement, his father, Stefan Schauffele, commented that it was time to have a “meaningful conversation” about paying players directly.

Now, it looks like that change might actually be happening. According to Golfweek, U.S. players are set to be paid for next year’s Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black. The Telegraph reported that the American players will receive about $400,000 each, a figure that’s expected to be finalized soon. Instead of the current model where players receive funds to donate to charity, this payment is expected to be a direct stipend, similar to what was done in this year’s Presidents Cup. Interestingly, The Telegraph also notes that there are no plans for European players to be paid.

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