Patrick Reed criticises US players over Ryder Cup pay decision

Patrick Reed took a blunt stance on Wednesday against American players who successfully lobbied to be paid to play in this month’s Ryder Cup, saying the financial arrangement was unnecessary and that any payments should be used for charitable causes.

Reed, who narrowly missed selection for Keegan Bradley’s 12-man United States team and has played in three Ryder Cups, made the comments after carding an opening 69 at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. The 2025 U.S. side will receive $500,000 per player to participate at Bethpage Black — the first time players have been paid for the event after a prolonged period of lobbying — with $300,000 earmarked for charities chosen by the players and the remainder classed as a personal stipend.

"It's one of those that I really think is unnecessary, to be honest with you," Reed said. "There are certain events where money means absolutely nothing and that's one of them, same with the Olympics. My biggest thing with the Ryder Cup is if you're going to give money to players, have it all go to their charity or something like that. Do something good with it. I mean to me, I never played that event and cared about playing for money. That was all about playing and representing my country, going out there and trying to win the Cup. There's no dollar amount that I'd want to play in the Ryder Cup or sway me to play one."

Reed, once dubbed "Captain America" for his Ryder Cup performances, said the decision by some U.S. players to seek payment underlined a changing culture in American golf, and contrasted the American camp’s makeup with the close-knit nature he has observed from European teams. He said Europeans often travel and socialise together, creating a cohesion he believes has given them an edge in past matches.

"The brotherhood and camaraderie out here, you don't really have it in the States," Reed said. "All the Europeans are traveling together. They're all eating together. I would say that's definitely an edge that they have over here, the camaraderie and just kind of the tightness of the groups, but I feel like we've recognized that on the US, and we're working on it and building that camaraderie, and getting tighter as a group."

Reed’s own path to selection was complicated by his move to LIV Golf, where events have offered limited world ranking points, restricting his ability to qualify via the PGA Tour-based points systems. He ultimately missed out on a berth in Bradley’s side, which will contest Europe at Bethpage Black later this month.

The $500,000 payment to each U.S. player follows weeks of negotiation and advocacy by some American professionals who argued compensation was appropriate given the commercial scale and personal commitments associated with competing in the biennial contest. Organisers announced the split between charitable donations and player stipends when confirming the arrangement.

The Ryder Cup has long been contested without direct player payments for participation, with the competition traditionally framed as a matter of national pride rather than financial reward. Reed’s comments add to a growing public debate about the role of money in team events that have historically relied on patriotism and pride of representation.

Keegan Bradley, who was confirmed as U.S. captain earlier, has not publicly changed the team’s stated focus on performance and team cohesion. The U.S. squad’s preparation will continue at practice sessions and pre-match events ahead of the opening matches at Bethpage Black.

Reed’s remarks arrived as golf’s international calendar moves toward one of its most anticipated team contests, underscoring tensions that accompany the sport’s evolving commercial landscape while players and organisers finalise plans for the match.