Tiger Woods hopes US Ryder Cup players will “get $5 million each” for charity

NASSAU, Bahamas – In the late 1990s, Tiger Woods found himself on the wrong side of compensating U.S. Ryder Cup players. That’s why the 15-time major champion welcomed news last month that the PGA of America was considering a similar plan.

“When I look back on my playing days I have to say that in 1999 we had the same conversation, we didn’t want to get paid, we wanted to donate more money to charity and the media turned it around on us and said we want to get paid,” Woods said Tuesday at the Hero World Challenge. “The Ryder Cup itself brings in so much money, why can’t we give it to different charities?

Tiger Woods was asked about his health and game at Hero on Tuesday, but the primary questions focused on his perspective on the overall state of golf.

“I hope they get $5 million each and donate it all to charity, different charities. I think it’s great. What’s wrong with that?”

According to a report in The Telegraph last month, the PGA of America is willing to pay US players $400,000 to attend next year’s games at Bethpage Black, although it is unclear whether that money will go directly to the players or would go to a charity of their choice.

Some European players, including Rory McIlroy, rejected the idea of ​​being paid to take part in games. “Personally, I would pay for the privilege of playing in the Ryder Cup,” he told BBC Sports last month.

“If the Europeans want to pay to play in the Ryder Cup, that’s their decision, that’s their team,” Woods said. “I know when they’re on European soil most of their tour is subsidized, so it’s a big event for the European tour and if they want to pay to play there then so be it.”

Woods and some U.S. players, including Mark O’Meara, were criticized in 1999 for pushing the PGA of America to make a portion of gaming revenue available to players. The PGA ultimately committed $100,000 to each player’s charity for the Brookline Games. Since then, charitable donations of up to $200,000 have been provided per player.