Tiger Woods supports Ryder Cup stars getting paid, but with a catch

Tiger Woods addressed the Ryder Cup pay-to-play conundrum ahead of the Hero World Challenge.

Tiger Woods wants U.S. Ryder Cup team members to get paid to play in the biennial competition.

But he wants those earnings to go to a charity of their choice.

“It’s never really been about getting paid,” Woods explained Tuesday.

“It’s how can we allocate funds to help our sport or help things that we believe in back home because it’s so hard to get onto that team; there’s only 12 guys. What’s wrong with being able to allocate more funds?”

The question arose because a Telegraph report from November indicated that the 12 U.S. players at Bethpage Black would receive $400,000 for participating next year. U.S. players do not currently receive any compensation. Instead, the PGA of America currently allocates $200,000 for each player to donate to a charity of their choice, much in line with what Woods is already advocating for.

But the 15-time major winner wants the PGA of America to increase the stakes.

“I hope they would get $5 million each and donate it all to different charities,” Woods added.

“I think it’s great. What’s wrong with that?”

The Ryder Cup has turned into a cash cow for the PGA of America, which will undoubtedly shatter revenue records next year on Long Island. Corporate hospitality has already sold out, as have the $750 tickets that caused quite a stir.

“The Ryder Cup itself makes so much money; why can’t we allocate it to various charities?” Woods pressed.

“And what’s wrong with each player, 12 players getting a million dollars and the ability to divvy out to amazing charities they’re involved in that they can help out? It’s their hometowns, where they’re from, all the different junior golf associations or endeavors that the members are involved in.”

Woods also noted that this dilemma is nothing new.

“I would have to say that going back to my playing days, we had the same conversation back in ‘99, and it was we didn’t want to get paid,” Woods said.

“We wanted to give more money to charity, and the media turned it around against us and said we want to get paid.”

Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThrough for more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.