Donald fires at Team USA as Ryder Cup opens in New York

Luke Donald used the Ryder Cup Opening Ceremony in New York on Wednesday to launch a pointed dig at Team USA as Europe prepares for the opening Friday at Bethpage Black. The European captain, reprising his role after Europe’s win in Rome, leaned on the Americans’ $200,000 stipend in a bid to stoke the rivalry ahead of the match. "It is not about prize money or world ranking points," Donald said. "It's about pride. It's about representing your flag, your shirts, and the legacy you leave behind." He followed with another jab: "We’re fueled by something money cannot buy."

Donald acknowledged the New York crowd would be boisterous, and he framed the challenge as part of the test of character and teamwork that defines the event. "The American team is rightly proud of their heritage, but so are we," he said. "Our European legacy is rooted in resilience, in togetherness and in proving people wrong. Time and again, we've shown that when we come together as one with a shared purpose, we can achieve remarkable things." He added: "What a place to try and do it again: New York City! New York is a place where if you show up with talent and a fighting spirit, the city will get behind you. Although maybe not if you're wearing European blue this week. We know what awaits us; Bethpage isn't exactly shy. This is New York sports country, passionate, loyal, and ferociously loud, and rightly so. You the fans here respect effort over ego. You show up for those who grind, for those who fight, and for those who rise to the big occasions. And you make us earn every cheer. We may not be your team, but we will give you something to respect, something to admire, and maybe by the end of this week, something to cheer for."

[IMAGE REDACTED: Luke Donald at Ryder Cup Opening Ceremony]

The Englishman also acknowledged the fierce New York crowd during the ceremony and announced the European team as Europe aims to retain the cup on foreign soil. The mood around the ceremony underscored a larger talking point of the week: the chance to break a long streak away from home. Two years ago in Rome, Europe captured a dramatic home victory; this week in New York, the team is chasing a historic away win that has eluded Europe since the Miracle of Medinah in 2012, and that has remained out of reach for the Americans for more than three decades.

"Two years ago, we wrote a chapter in Rome. This week in New York, we aim to write history," Donald said, framing the week as a chance to add to Ryder Cup folklore. "We didn't come here just to be a part of the show. We came here to earn our place in Ryder Cup folklore. We're not just playing to win, we're playing for each other and for every young golfer back home who dreams about one day representing Team Europe. We know it won't be easy; winning away never is. Only four European teams have done it before. But that's the beauty of sport. The toughest roads lead to the greatest rewards."

On the financial side, the competition’s terms were again a talking point. Each American player will receive $500,000 for participation this week, with $300,000 directed to a charity of the player's choosing and the remaining $200,000 effectively serving as a paycheck if the player accepts it. The Europeans, by contrast, are playing for pride and legacy rather than prize money, though Rolex watches were gifted to players and their close circle in a nod to the event’s pageantry.

Despite the rhetoric and the pomp, the practical question remains: will Donald’s rhetorical edge translate to on-course success in the battle for the Ryder Cup? The opening tee on Friday will answer little, but the speech underscored a week of intense anticipation, with the New York crowd, Bethpage Black’s difficulty, and the long history between the two teams setting the stage for a storied showdown.

The Americans have signaled they intend to donate their entire salaries to charity, a stance that echoed Cantlay’s 2023 taunting controversy over not wearing a Team USA hat in protest of compensation, which he denied at the time. Still, the overarching tone from both sides centers on pride, tradition, and the chance to etch a new chapter in Ryder Cup lore as Europe seeks its first away win in 13 years and seeks to end an American drought that stretches back even longer. As the teams prepare, the stage is set for a week that will be measured not in prize money but in courage, resilience, and the rare spectacle of a forceful, cross-Atlantic rivalry playing out on one of golf’s grandest stages.