US Ryder Cup players to donate first-year pay to charity, Scottie Scheffler and Patrick Cantlay among the stars

For the first time in Ryder Cup history, members of Team USA are set to receive compensation for their participation. But instead of taking the money back home, Scottie Scheffler and several of his teammates have decided to donate their entire pay to charity.Last year, the PGA of America said that each of the 12 U.S. players and captain Keegan Bradley would get $300,000 to donate to a charity of their choice, plus another $200,000 they could keep for themselves. The decision caused a lot of debate, but the American players have chosen to use this chance to give back.Scheffler made it clear that he was not seeking recognition, but believed the initiative could have a real impact. “I’ve never been one to announce what we do,” Scheffler said. “I don’t like to give charitable dollars for some kind of recognition. But we have something planned for the money we’ll be receiving. I think it’s a really cool thing the PGA of America has empowered us to do.”Two-time major champion Xander Schauffele echoed Scheffler’s sentiment, saying he will also donate his stipend. He brushed off the noise around player pay. Patrick Cantlay, who was at the center of controversy in 2023 after speculation that he protested by not wearing a team hat, also confirmed he will donate his earnings. Addressing the past rumors with a smile, Cantlay clarified that his hat simply didn’t fit in Rome, but this time around, it does.Also Read: "I get a call or a text from him": How Donald Trump reaches out to world no. 1 Scottie Scheffler after tournament victoriesU.S. captain Keegan Bradley revealed the compensation plan was in discussion as early as last year. While he doesn’t understand all the criticism, he emphasized that the players’ choice to donate underlines what the event represents. On the European side, captain Luke Donald has stood firm, reiterating that his team does not believe in being paid to represent their continent.With the Ryder Cup about to begin, the U.S. players are making it clear that it’s not about the money, it’s about pride, giving back, and playing their best. As Patrick Cantlay said, “This event creates a lot of noise, but that won’t help us score points.”