LIV Golf star makes Ryder Cup cash demand despite not being picked for US team
LIV Golf star Talor Gooch has called for fresh talks surrounding “fair compensation” for players taking part in the Ryder Cup. The American believes that the amount of money the tournament makes is not equally distributed, with players giving their earnings to charity while “other people are stuffing their pockets.”
Gooch’s comments come amid the controversy surrounding this year’s tournament which saw Team Europe win 16.5-11.5 at the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome. US golfer Patrick Cantlay grabbed headlines after his reported refusal to wear the team cap in a protest against not being paid to play at the tournament.
Cantlay shut down the reports, saying: “It just doesn’t fit” during the tournament, with players and fans from both sides seen mocking the claims.
American golfers have traditionally never been paid to take part in the Ryder Cup, with all of their $200,000 in earnings, provided by the PGA of America, being donated to charity. The money is then split into different pots and awarded to various organisations, causes and charities.
However, little is known about how much TV companies and organisers of the event are able to rake in from partnerships, endorsement and broadcast deals, prompting Gooch – a three-time winner on the lucative LIV Golf circuit in 2023 – to speak out. “I think it’s a good conversation to have,” he said in an interview with bunkered.
