Departing golf chief lifts lid on U.S. Ryder Cup pay row: "It is kind of a bad look"

Departing PGA of America chief executive Seth Waugh has revealed had he stayed on in his role he wouldn't have pushed for U.S. Ryder Cup players to be compensated. 

The governing body confirmed last December that for the first time in the 98-year history of the matches that Team USA members will be paid. 

All 12 players that will represent Keegan Bradley's red, white and blue will each receive $500,000 (£400,000), with $300,000 (£240,000) donated to a charity or charities. 

The thorny issue was first raised during the 1999 Ryder Cup at Brookline with Tiger Woods and David Duval among those speaking out. 

Woods claimed last year what happened back then was media spin, adding: "We didn't want to get paid, we wanted to give more money to charity."

The 2023 contest in Rome was marked by Patrick Cantlay's apparent refusal to wear a team cap in what was reported to be a protest at not being paid. 

Cantlay has always denied this was the case. 

The aforementioned Waugh has weighed in on the topic in an eye-opening Q&A with Golfweek. 

Waugh has retired and his successor, Derek Sprague, began work officially on 18 January.

Waugh said no U.S. player asked to be compensated but questions were asked by a select few such as: "Why are you growing the game on the back of me?"

The 65-year-old said had he stayed on in the role then he likely 'wouldn't have' wanted players to be paid. 

"Because if you take any lesson in the last few years, the world is tired of talking about money," he said when asked why.  

"Golf was supposed to be playing for a higher purpose. 

"That's what the Ryder Cup signifies, you know? And because we give 20% of our television rights to the PGA Tour already, we are paying the players. 

"We're paying all the players, not just 12. 

"I don't think it's gonna change their lives because it's not a big enough number to matter to them. 

"They can monetise their participation in a way that blows away whatever you can pay them. 

"And I just think for the players to ask to be paid for it is kind of a bad look."

Waugh confirmed no players directly asked for cash. 

"They asked a lot of questions," he said.  

"A couple of players wanted to understand the finances of Ryder Cup and the PGA of America. Fair enough, there should be transparency there. 

"You know, 'Why are we growing the game on the back of me?' kind of thing. 

"Which I understand, but it's on the back of everybody. But no, nobody ever specifically said I want to get paid. There are obviously implications of it. 

"We've been talking about for 25 years about being paid, and now it'll be how much are we getting paid."

Waugh also took credit for the decision to appoint Bradley as Zach Johnson's successor. 

He floated Bradley's name in a meeting and there was an immediate consensus, he said. 

According to Waugh, players like Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth pushed for a 'more relatable' captain.

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