ALBANY, BAHAMAS| With a deadpan expression, world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler delivered a minute-long monologue on how the only thing he ever discusses with Tiger Woods is money. Woods, the 15-time major champion, had earlier opined that he would not mind each American player getting $5 million for playing in the Ryder Cup and paying it to charities, while Patrick Cantlay blamed the media for creating a storm in a teacup.
The American superstars who gathered at Albany in Nassau for the Hero World Challenge, a tournament hosted by Woods’ TGR Foundation, had plenty to say on the report that first appeared in the U.K.’s Telegraph. It stated that each of them will be paid $400,000 for playing under the Stars & Stripes at Bethpage Black in September.
The one thing they did not do was deny that such a move was afoot, thus indicating that a deal had already been reached with the PGA of America.
Woods, who did not compete in the 20-man field because he felt he was not “tournament-sharp yet” after his sixth lower-back procedure earlier this year, was the first to face questions on the issue.
“It’s never really been about getting paid. It’s how we allocate funds to help our sport or help things that we believe in back home. Because it’s so hard to get onto that team. There’s only 12 guys. What’s wrong with being able to allocate more funds?”
Tiger Woods
“I hope they would get $5 million each and donate it all to charity, different charities,” Woods said. “I think it’s great. What’s wrong with that?
“I would have to say that going back to my playing days, we had the same conversation back in ’99 and it was that we didn’t want to get paid … we wanted to give more money to charity, and the media turned it around against us and said we want to get paid.
“The Ryder Cup itself makes so much money, why can’t we allocate it to various charities? And what’s wrong with each player, 12 players, getting a million dollars and the ability to divvy out to amazing charities that they’re involved in that they can help out? It’s their hometowns, where they’re from, all the different junior golf associations or endeavors that the members are involved in.
American captain Keegan Bradley said he was shocked at the “leak,” but agreed with Woods.
“What Tiger said is 100 percent correct,” Bradley said. “I don’t think the charity dollars have changed from 1999. It’s been the same number. But it’s the PGA of America’s decision. I have to wait and see what they want to do. I don’t have the power to change any of that. There’s been nothing that’s been finalized. This is all speculation at this point. I was definitely disappointed that someone leaked out that information. What I can say is that not a single player has asked for this, or has come to me with this. No player was part of this.”
The Europeans, led by world No. 3 Rory McIlroy, have been united in their opinion that they do not want to get paid for the biennial exhibition. The profits generated are used by the DP World Tour for developing the main tour and the Challenge Tour, as well as prize funds and administrative expenses.
Cantlay, one of six player directors on the PGA Tour Policy Board, is often cited as the main protagonist in stirring up the pot at last year’s Ryder Cup in Rome, where it was reported that he refused to wear the team cap as a protest on not getting paid.
At Albany, Cantlay said: “My thoughts on the Ryder Cup are really simple: I’m there to represent my country, and I’m there to win points for my teammates. That’s it.”
When asked if what happened in Rome had a role to play in this development, the world No. 11 added: “I think that’s a media narrative and I’m not going to fall into that.”
Scheffler, who is known for his calm temperament, looked visibly upset when a reporter mentioned that his tears in Rome after the U.S. lost seemed to indicate that playing the Ryder Cup meant much more to him than money.
“As far as I’m concerned, I think all of us on the American side are more than willing to play in the Ryder Cup for free. We’ve been playing in the Ryder Cup for free for a long time. And, if they want to pay us to play in the tournament, that’s great. The tournament seems to make a good amount of money,” said the reigning Masters and Olympic champion.
“It’s funny. I feel like a lot of the time in the golf media, people are trying to talk less and less about money, but every week I sit here and get asked about money, so you can’t really have both there.
“The last few years they’ve given us some money that we can give to charity. If someone doesn't want to take the money for themselves or if you want to give to charity, do whatever, but I don’t think there’s any problem with guys getting paid to play in the Ryder Cup. I don't think it takes away from the competition at all.
“As far as I’m concerned, I don’t play golf for money. I’ve been playing golf my whole life for free, and the money’s just a bonus. If somebody wants to pay us to come out here and play golf, that’s great. I’m not going to say no to it. We get paid pretty darn well to play in golf tournaments, but I want to win just as bad for zero dollars as I do for whatever millions of dollars it is. The money’s not my motivation.”
Scheffler wasn’t done with showing his dissent on the money question. A few minutes later, he was asked what he discussed with Woods when they met at the start of the week in Albany.
“I think most of the time we just talked about money and how the purses need to be bigger,” Scheffler, who made $62 million during a seven-victory PGA Tour season before adding another $1 million in unofficial earnings here on Sunday in winning the Hero, said with a straight face. “We really grinded on the Ryder Cup and how it’s just such BS that we’ve never gotten paid. Tiger was really frustrated because he felt like he hadn’t made enough money in his career.
“I feel like last year, I didn’t get paid enough for what I did. Mostly that, just a bunch of griping,” he added before breaking into his trademark laughter.
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Top: Every time Tiger Woods and Scottie Scheffler talk, it's about money more than trophies.
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