Before this Friday begins in New York the mother of all battles, another Ryder is played outside the strings. To charge or not charge for playing the most prestigious world golf tournament? The debate has lit the previous hours of the confrontation between Europe and the United States and the two teams fight this psychological duel that concerns the story rather than the game. Each victory tells how little it is. And before the blows in the field resonate the words.
For the first time in the history of a competition that in 2027 will turn 100 years old, American golfers will receive money for defending their country: 300,000 euros that must allocate to beneficial purposes and another 200,000 for personal use. The decision of the PGA of America after a long time for debate in the American costumes as more rooted values in the continental team. This has been historically since in 1979 the rest of European golfers joined the British in the challenge to the empire. The figure of Seve Ballesteros also served to raise that feeling of belonging to a team, beyond a collection of stars, and to enhance the rebellion against the United States. The Ryder was played by pride, not for money. No one charged a euro or a dollar. Until now.
Money has revolutionized golf in opposition to the American and European circuit. Very juicy contracts have caused the split between golfers that are ready on either side. Because a good intention that is advertised, the peace agreement and a fusion seem more and more distant goals. And now that money shakes the last island of romanticism that remained afloat, the mythical Ryder Cup. The American side defends that a competition that is a gold mine for the millions that it generates (the cheapest entry for a single day in New York costs 750 dollars) and for its planetary audience (only behind the Olympic Games and a World Cup) must report a minimum gain to its players. Europe considers that the business should be apart.
“Europeans do not play for money, not as the United States. We play to represent our country and our continent, and for other values. I hope that way of feeling the Ryder never changes”, another institution, Sergio García, maximum historical scorer of the tournament (28.5 points), although absent in this event, it goes in the same direction: “charge for the Ryder is not the most beautiful thing, that they are asking for money. We went to Liv in the American circuit said we were going for money, and now they do the same. ”
The captains of the two teams each raise their flag. “We have modernized the Ryder. I am not worried about what Europe thinks, but what my players do. This will be very good. It seems great to me,” says American Keegan Bradley. His European colleague, Luke Donald, replies: “It’s not a week to collect. Living this is worth more than a couple of thousands of dollars in my pocket. I talked to the boys and everyone said: ‘We have not even considered playing for money.”
The American Patrick Cantlay went out to play a gesture that was understood as a protest for not receiving a salary for competing, beyond the money they have already received since 1999 to collaborate with solidarity causes.
The story has changed. Today the United States charges for playing the Ryder and Europe no. The ball has not begun to roll in New York but the game is already underway.
