The Ryder Cup has grown into a complex (and polarizing) compensation issue.

As reports swirl that American players could be paid to participate in the upcoming Ryder Cups, European giants are doubling down on the purity of the event.

“I personally would pay for the right to play in the Ryder Cup,” said Rory McIlroy The Irish Golfer during the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai on Thursday. “I’ve come a long way in this, especially in the Olympics, but the two types of purist competition in our sport right now are the Ryder Cup and the Olympics, because there’s no money involved.”

McIlroy’s comments were echoed by fellow European Shane Lowry, who is also in Dubai this week.

“I don’t care if I care [get paid] or not, honesty,” Lowry told reporters. “You know, the Ryder Cup is a privilege, and that’s what I’m working for.”

Compensation questions were dismissed from the European Ryder Cup primary the following day The Telegraph’s James Corrigan reported that the PGA of America is considering proposals and is approaching a design that will pay US players directly for the first time in the event’s nearly 100-year history. According to Corrigan, the proposal calls for each US player to earn $400,000 for playing in the Ryder Cup.

The PGA of America declined to comment on the story and declined to comment when reached by GOLF.com.

There is currently no plan, however, for European players to be paid.

While several pundits have floated the idea of ​​a Ryder Cup compensation over the years, it has made little waves. The idea took a big step last year in Rome, when it was reported that Patrick Cantlay was protesting not being paid by refusing to wear a hat. Cantlay denied the report, but started the conversation regardless. (Stefan Schauffele, Xander Schauffele’s father, was very specific about his views.)

In this year’s President’s Cup, Golfweek’s Adam Schupak reported that players are no longer required to contribute the $250,000 stipend they received and that the number is expected to increase to the Ryder Cup and become a discretionary fund.

McIlroy said paying golfers at the Ryder Cup would give the event a “different feel,” adding that the financial issue could change the team’s cohesion.

“I don’t think there are 24 players on any team that need $400,000,” he said Thursday. “Every two years we play there are 104 weeks and 103 weeks you can play golf and get paid so that makes sense enough. Nothing will change for us.”

McIlroy, in particular, has come full circle at the Ryder Cup. In 2009 he said “it’s not my ultimate goal,” adding, “it’s a show at the end of the day.” … In the grand scheme of things it’s not that important an event to me. Obviously I’ll try my best for the team – but I’m not going to go around punching.”

More than a decade later, he fought back tears in an interview moments after hitting Schauffele with the only record of the week in what became the American Games at Whistling Straits in 2021.

“I’m very proud to be a part of this team,” McIlroy told NBC. “Being a partner at all. All these guys, captains, vice-captains. We had a great time. Looks like it’s not going to turn out the way we wanted it to on the golf course. It’s been a tough week, but the more I play in this event, I realize it’s the best event in golf, bar-none.”

While pay-to-play talk has dominated last year’s Ryder Cup conversation, Bethpage’s ticket prices for the 2025 iteration have also caused a stir. Tickets were available only through the lottery, with prices starting at $255 for practice rounds and $749 for competition days. Fees were also high, and those prices increased significantly on the secondary market.

The PGA of America said Wednesday that tickets for the three-day tournament have sold out due to “overwhelming” demand and more than half a million people registered for tickets through the lottery.

“If the PGA of America is looking at more money from the Ryder Cup or the players are starting to get paid eventually from the people who pay to watch the event, then it’s a double-edged sword,” said McIlroy. “The consensus in Europe is that we don’t want anything to change what we have here so we won’t be paid for Bethpage, which is great.”

Luka Donald will captain Europe for the second consecutive Ryder Cup, and he said last year that he doesn’t care about players who need to be paid.

“It’s one week where you play more than yourself, it’s not about money or points, it’s about coming together as a team and the fans feed off of that — it’s all about love,” he said. “I don’t think we should be paid.”

If any of these reported changes come to pass, paying one squad and not the other will add some wrinkle to the unusual but interesting Ryder Cup. And since both countries are managed by different organizations, that is a possibility.

Come September 2025, Europe will try to win its first road Ryder Cup since it won in Medina in 2012. And it will taste a little better to do it pro bono.