Tiger Woods previously claimed that he felt players should be paid to represent the United States at the Ryder Cup, and now the PGA of America have finally made a change

The PGA of America is expected to pay members of the United States Ryder Cup team to compete at Bethpage Black next fall – answering a call Tiger Woods made 25 years ago.

Ever since the inception of the matchplay event, players have never been paid to represent their team, but this looks set to change. According to The Telegraph, the PGA of America is set to introduce a pool of around $6 million which will be split between the U.S. ranks.

Per the report, it is claimed that members of the team will receive a payment of $400,000 for wearing American colors, as Keegan Bradley’s team bid to win the Ryder Cup back in front of a home crowd in 2025.

The pay row surrounding the Ryder Cup has gone on for some time, and back in 1999, the great Woods sided with the idea that there should be some sort of financial payment for those competing. “I would like to see us receive whatever the amount is,” Woods said at the time.

“200, 300, 400, 500,000 dollars, whatever it is – and I think we should be able to keep the money and do whatever we see fit. Personally, I would donate all of it to charity. But I think it’s up to the other person’s discretion what they would do with it.

“With all the money that’s being made, I think that we should have a say in where it goes.” Woods’ teammate Tom Lehman was forced to have his say on the matter, insisting there was no chance of a boycott within the squad at the time, despite pay dominating conversation.

Tiger Woods has not played in the Ryder Cup since 2018 ( Image: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

“Everybody is on the same page,” Lehman said. “There will not be compensation to players under any circumstance. The PGA of America heard what the players had to say about having a voice. The players want what’s close to their hearts to be heard as well.

“The idea of a boycott was, is, and always will be… ridiculous.” Of course, no boycott did take place, and players on the U.S. team have since received $200,000 each, with half going to the Boys & Girls Club of America, Drive, Chip, and Putt Championship, and PGA Junior League Golf and the other to a charity of each player’s choice.”

The pay row returned in Italy last year though, with Patrick Cantlay at the center of the saga. According to Sky Sports, Cantlay had left the U.S. camp fractured over his opinion on pay and thus opted not to wear a cap in protest at his lack of payment. The PGA Tour star denied his choice to not sport headwear was in protest but refused to to deny that he felt he should be paid to compete.