LIV Golf’s Patrick Reed opposes the idea of American players being paid to compete in the Ryder Cup, insisting that nobody cared about being compensated during his three outings in the contest.
Starting with next year’s edition at Bethpage Black in New York, Team USA players are set to receive payment for the first time. According to a report in the Daily Telegraph earlier this month, the 12 members of Keegan Bradley’s side will share a $4.8 million fund equally, following an agreement with the PGA of America that is pending board approval.
The question of payment became a hot topic during last year’s Ryder Cup in Rome, where Patrick Cantlay declined to wear the American team cap, reportedly in protest over the lack of financial incentives for players.
Reed, who did not feature in last year’s event at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, has played in three Ryder Cups, earning the nickname "Captain America" for his passion and pride in representing the red, white, and blue.
Reflecting on those appearances between 2014 and 2018, the 2018 Masters Tournament said that compensation for playing was never discussed.
He also expressed concerns that introducing payments could create tensions among players who are not selected for the team.
“It’s such a touchy subject,” Reed told Gulf News at the International Series Qatar.
“With having six picks, if you finish inside the top 12 and the captain decides to skip over you and pick someone else, not only did you not get to play, but you also just lost $400k. So to me, I feel like it's a pretty sticky kind of situation.
“In the past, when I was part of Ryder Cups, none of the players or caddies were ever sitting there and talking about whether we got paid or not. None of us could really care.
“All we cared about was playing the Ryder Cup, representing your country, going out and playing against Europe, and hopefully bringing the cup home or keeping the cup.
“It's one of those things that could be a very interesting situation. At Whistling Straits, I was 11th in the standings, and they didn't pick me. All I know is I'd be pretty annoyed if I finished 11th, didn't get picked, and so not only am I not playing, but I also lost $400k.
“I don't know how that would all happen and take care of itself, but I don't like it personally.”
Does he believe it would be better without money involved?
“Yeah,” he replies.
“Honestly, if it comes down to picks and that determines whether a guy gets paid or not, I don’t like that. I don't like that at all.
“Guys grind so hard. Every two years, you're grinding so hard to try to make that team, so if you're one of those guys that's inside the top 12 and then you get left out, and then on top of it, you lose money for it, especially that much money — $400k is a lot of money.
“To sit there and think, ‘oh man, I played well enough to be inside the top 12 but didn’t get picked and lost money for it’ — that just, to me, doesn't sit well.
“That tournament is so much more than getting paid.
“Just like the Olympics, anytime you can go and represent your country and try and win something for your country — we’re all competitors out here. We don't need money to drive us to go play the Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup or Olympics.
“What drives us to play in those events is going out and playing for something way bigger than just yourself.
“You're playing for your country, you're playing for your teammates, and so I don't see any reason to sit there and play for anything besides the trophy and bringing it back for the red, white, and blue.”
Ryder Cup return?
Reed last competed in the Ryder Cup in 2018, as part of the U.S. team that lost to Thomas Bjorn’s European side at Le Golf National in Paris.
Despite finishing 11th in the qualification standings for the 2021 edition, Reed did not earn a Captain’s Pick from Steve Stricker.
Stricker cited “uncertainty of his health” as a key reason for the decision, following Reed’s recent battle with bilateral pneumonia - a life-threatening illness that had left the Texan fighting for survival.
Reed was also absent from last year’s contest in Rome, his first since joining LIV Golf. U.S. captain Zach Johnson indicated that he would not be attending LIV Golf events to evaluate potential players for his team, but did end up selecting Brooks Koepka after the American won the PGA Championship.
In contrast, current captain Keegan Bradley has taken a different approach. Earlier this year, Bradley stated that he is willing to attend LIV Golf events, declaring, “I want the 12 best players, and I don’t care where they play.”
For Reed, those words were music to his ears.
“Obviously, that's great news and everything like that,” he said.
“I like how he's open to trying to put out the best team possible. I feel like there's a lot of guys on LIV that can really help out that team. At the end of the day, it's ultimately his decision.
“Obviously, I'd love to be back on that team. I'd love to be that pest that's always, you know, bugging the heck out of those Euros.
“I love to hear that he’s going to stand up and be like, ‘hey, since I'm captain, I'm going to put the best Americans out there that I feel like are best for our team.’
“Honestly, that's how it should be, and good for him. I’m proud to hear that, and I'm excited to hear about that. Now, hopefully, we can just go out and do our job, play some good golf, and hopefully get in that mix.”
