Tiger Woods has advocated for U.S. Ryder Cup players to receive $5 million each for the 2025 event at Bethpage Black, with the entire amount being donated to charity. While historically Ryder Cup participants haven’t been paid appearance fees, reports suggest that U.S. players could receive about $400,000 for next year’s competition. Woods, who was part of the 1999 Ryder Cup team, recalled similar debates about player compensation. He emphasized that the intent then was to direct any potential payment toward charitable causes, but the media misrepresented the players’ position.
Woods believes that the significant revenue generated by the Ryder Cup could be partially allocated to support various charitable initiatives. He expressed his hope that U.S. players could donate $5 million each to charity, noting the difficulty of making the Ryder Cup team and advocating for the allocation of more funds for a good cause.
When asked about the European players’ stance, such as Rory McIlroy’s comment that he would “pay to play” in the Ryder Cup, Woods acknowledged their right to feel that way. He also pointed out the importance of the Ryder Cup for the European Tour, suggesting that if Europeans choose not to accept appearance fees, it’s their decision to make.
Woods, who is recovering from back surgery in September, is hosting the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas. He shared that his recovery has been slow but is making progress, though he’s still far from ready to compete at the highest level.
On the ongoing negotiations between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) over a potential deal, Woods admitted that talks have moved more slowly than anticipated. However, he remains hopeful that an agreement will be reached, even though the specifics are still unclear.
