Ryder Cup 2025: Xander Schauffele says all of the money awarded to USA players will go to charity
US players and captain Keegan Bradley to be paid $500,000 (£395,000) for appearing at 2025 Ryder Cup, with Xander Schauffele saying all of that money will be donated to charity; world No 2 Schauffele to tee it up at The Sentry in Hawaii from Thursday, live on Sky Sports Golf (6pm)
Wednesday 1 January 2025 17:42, UK
Xander Schauffele says all of the money awarded to American players at the 2025 Ryder Cup will be donated to charity.
The PGA of America recently announced that the 12 US golfers who compete at Bethpage Black in September, as well as captain Keegan Bradley, will receive $500,000 (£395,000) with $300,000 (£237,000) given to charity.
Players will be free do what they wish with the remaining $200,000 (£158,000), termed a "stipend", but world No 2 Schauffele says he and his team-mates will not be keeping any for themselves.
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"I just see it as a whole lot of money going to charity and we're going to take a lot of c**p," said the reigning PGA and Open champion ahead of this week's PGA Tour event, The Sentry, live on Sky Sports.
"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."
Skipper Bradley had previously said he will donate all of his money to charity.
'I'm looking at it as an opportunity to give away more money'
Sky Sports' Jamie Weir reported at the previous Ryder Cup, in Italy in 2023, that Patrick Cantlay's decision not to wear a cap was due to frustration at not being paid, a claim Cantlay said "did not have a shred of truth".
When rumours of American players being rewarded financially for the next edition first emerged, European linchpin Rory McIlroy said he would gladly pay to play in the event.
Schauffele added: "I'm looking at it as an opportunity to give away more money. 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."
Schauffele: Pay debate will 'juice up' Ryder Cup
Schauffele also believes the pay debate will stoke things up even more ahead of the 2025 Ryder Cup, with the event to be played in front of a notoriously rowdy New York crowd.
"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," he added.
"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."
Schauffele is the favourite to win The Sentry with world No 1 Scottie Scheffler (hand) out injured after a mishap preparing Christmas dinner and world No 3 Rory McIlroy also not taking part.
"It's a huge bummer," Schauffele said of Scheffler's absence in Maui, which could yet extend to the The American Express Championship in California between January 16-19.
"I hope he's OK. I didn't feel too comfortable texting him. It's weird because we're competitors but at the same time he's such a nice guy, him and (his wife Meredith). I just hope he's fine.
"We're a lot better off with him here in Hawaii than not so hopefully he gets a full recovery and he's fine."
Watch round one of The Sentry live on Sky Sports Golf from 6pm on Thursday or stream with NOW.
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