Rory McIlroy: I'd pay to play for Europe in Ryder Cup
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RORY McIlroy has said he would "pay to play" for Europe in the Ryder Cup amid reports that American golfers will each receive $400,000 to compete in next year's renewal in New York.
McIlroy was one of several European stars who said they do not need financial rewards to compete in the biennial match against the United States.
The Daily Telegraph has reported that a deal has been struck with the PGA of America, subject to board approval, that would lead to each player in Keegan Bradley’s team receiving an equal split of $4.8m.
"I personally would pay for the privilege to play on the Ryder Cup," McIlroy told BBC Sport after firing a five-under 67 to share the lead after round one of the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
"The two purest forms of competition in our game right now are the Ryder Cup and the Olympics, and it's partly because of that, the purity of no money being involved."
"I don't think any of the 24 players on either team needs that 400 grand," McIlroy said. "Every two years, there are 104 weeks and 103 weeks you can play golf and get paid."
He added:
"I can see the other side of the argument because the Ryder Cup does create a lot of revenue. It is one of the probably top five biggest sporting events in the world. So I get the argument that the talent should be or could be getting paid. But the Ryder Cup is so much more than that, especially to the Europeans and to this tour."
McIlroy said that he and his team-mates in captain Luke Donald’s side have no interest in being paid.
"We have all had a conversation with Luke about it over the past few weeks because we obviously heard," McIlroy revealed.
"The common consensus among us is that $5m would be better off spent elsewhere on the DP World Tour to support other events or even to support The Challenge Tour."
Ireland's Shane Lowry said it is no sacrifice to be helping the European tour’s finances free of charge. "You're not even giving back because it's a privilege to be there," said the former Open champion.
"I'd give anything to know that I'm on the team next year. I'm going to spend the next 10 months stressing my head off trying to make the team."
McIlroy carded six birdies and a solitary bogey in an opening 67 matched by Ryder Cup team-mate Tyrrell Hatton, with England's Paul Waring, who won in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, a shot off the pace.
Thriston Lawrence is the only player who can stop McIlroy topping the money list for the third year running by winning the season-ending event, and even that would not be enough if McIlroy finishes 11th or better in the 50-man field.
