Ex-European Tour member Lee Westwood has become the latest golfer to speak out against the idea of American players being “paid to play” in the Ryder Cup.
In a recent episode of The Bunkered Podcast, Westwood criticized the rumours about a proposal to split US $4 million amongst the 12 players selected. Traditionally, this money goes to charity, but under the new plan, it would be paid directly into the players’ bank accounts.
European players like Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose have voiced their opposition to the idea, with which 51-year-old Westwood agrees in.
Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke. Jamie Squire
“The Ryder Cup is a huge money-making machine for people now and different organisations, but to my mind, the players shouldn’t be paid to play,” said Westwood. “You’ve had a successful year. Yeah, maybe make a donation to the players’ charities. That would be nice. But certainly not paying the players.
“I’ve teed it up in 11 Ryder Cups and not once have I ever thought I should be getting paid to do this. You’re playing for the honor of representing Europe in my case, and I would think the United States in the Americans’ case.
“When you just tee it up and you’re not playing for anything, that’s when you get real drama. You see what people are really made of when they’re representing a lot of people, not just themselves.”
Since Westwood and his Majesticks teammate Ian Poulter joined LIV Golf and gave up their DP World Tour memberships, their chances of becoming European Ryder Cup captains in the future have all but disappeared.
“They’re dwindling all the time,” he said. “We’re not members of the European Tour and that’s one of the rules—that you have to be a member. So it’s impossible, and once you understand that, there’s not really any point in talking or thinking about it too much. You’re trying to achieve the unachievable.”
Main Image: Asian Tour
