2014 Ryder Cup: Big Winners At Gleneagles

By Les Bailey | Sep 21, 2014

Sep 30, 2012; Medinah, IL, USA; United States golfers from left to right Matt Kuchar, Zach Johnson, and Dustin Johnson stand during the playing of the National Anthem at the closing ceremony for the 39th Ryder Cup on day three at Medinah Country Club. Europe defeats the United States 14 1/2 to 13 1/2. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

The Ryder Cup is one of the richest events in Professional golf, but the big winners are not the players. In fact, the players are the only people who don’t get paid when they tee it up every two years. We ask these people, who make millions of dollars week in, and week out on the PGA, and European Tours to play for pride and charity.

Let’s face it, if a player has played well enough over a two-year span to make this team, they probably don’t need the money anyway. The big winners are the many charities and schools around the world who thrive on donations from this event.

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For Team USA, the PGA of America puts up $2.6 Million dollars, and although the captains and players do not pocket any of the money, they do have a say in how the money is distributed.

The members of the team each get $100,000 dollars which they can donate to the charity of their choice. They each get another $50,000 that they can donate to their college alma mater, or any college of their choice, and an additional $50,000 which goes to The Ryder Cup Junior Golf Academy.

Team Europe doesn’t break down their charity distribution amounts, but they donate funds to the following European charities.

Friends of St Margarets. St Margaret’s in Auchterarder is an innovative community hospital, providing primary and intermediate care medical services for nearly 900 patients, as well as to the many visitors to this part of Perthshire. St Margaret’s provides inpatient care, mainly for the elderly with acute infections or those who require rehabilitation after major illness.

Perth and Kinross Disability Sport. Perth & Kinross Disability Sport aims to promote sport and physical activity for people with physical, learning or sensory disabilities at a local level. Their vision is to lead the development of sport in Perth & Kinross for people of all ages and abilities with a physical, sensory or learning disability.

Quarriers. Quarriers is Scotland’s family charity, providing more than 100 services across the country providing much needed care and support for thousands of vulnerable children, young people, adults and families who face extremely challenging circumstances such as poverty, homelessness, learning and physical disabilities and epilepsy.

The McGinley Foundation. The McGinley Foundation, the charitable foundation of Europe’s Ryder Cup Captain Paul McGinley aims to support charities and not-for-profit organisations that Paul and his family have a close association with. Particular emphasis will be placed on those who assist and support children and young adults.

So, although players from both sides of the Atlantic get a chance to play for pride and country, the big winners around the world are the multiple charities that receive donations, and of course us, the fans who should get three days packed with the best match-play golf on the planet.

Unfortunately, if you want to watch the early matches live, you will need to set your alarms, and get up in the middle of the night. You could watch it on tape-delay, but what kind of fun is that?

Source: PGATour.com RyderCup.com