McIlroy: I'd pay for privilege of playing in Ryder Cup

Rory McIlroy isn't chasing a payday for Ryder Cup participation even after the American team reportedly secured compensation for the 2025 event at Bethpage Black.

"I personally would pay for the privilege to play in the Ryder Cup," McIlroy told BBC Sports' Iain Carter. "The two purest forms of competition in our game right now are the Ryder Cup and the Olympics, and it's partly because of that, the purity of no money being involved."

McIlroy added, "I don't think any of the 24 players on either team needs that 400 grand. Every two years, there are 104 weeks and 103 weeks you can play golf and get paid."

Each American player will receive approximately $400,000 USD for next year's event, The Telegraph's James Corrigan reports. The U.S. team received $200,000 each to donate to charities in 2023.

There are no current plans for the European team to be paid.

Compensation was a big topic at the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome. Rumors surfaced of Patrick Cantlay refusing to wear an American hat to protest playing for free, but he denied the claims. Xander Schauffele's father, Stefan, caused a stir by stating players should get their share of the biannual tournament's profits.

"It was a discussion that was happening in Rome," McIlroy noted. "I can see the other side of the argument because the Ryder Cup does create a lot of revenue.

"It is one of the probably top five biggest sporting events in the world. So I get the argument that the talent should be or could be getting paid. But the Ryder Cup is so much more than that, especially to the Europeans and to this tour."

McIlroy is the central figure of Europe's Ryder Cup roster and has represented the continent at the last seven events. He secured four points in Europe's triumph last year and has an all-time record of 16-13-4.