The American team will be paid for the first time at Bethpage Black in New York this week
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Thebigtalkingpointinthebuild-uptothisyear’sRyderCuphasbeenthematterofplayerpayments,asubjectthathasthreatenedtoovershadowtheAmerican’sshow.
ItisnotthefirsttimetheissueofremunerationhascomeupattheRyderCup,anditisusuallysomethingthatbotherstheUSteam.
TheRyderCuphasalwaysbeenanunpaidevent,eversinceitsfirstinstalmentin1927.ItwasbilledasafriendlymatchbetweentheUSandBritain,and,fortheplayers,themotivationbehindthetournamentwastheprideofrepresentingtheircountry.
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TheRyderCupwasconsideringsomethingofanexhibitionupuntilthe1980s,whenitstartedtobecomeapopulartelevisedevent.BoththePGAofAmericaandtheEuropeanTourbegantorecoupsignificantrevenuesassponsorsweredrawntotheshow.
In1999,TigerWoodswasprominentinapplyingpressureforplayerstobepaid.WoodsandDavidDuvalmadethecasethatmillionsofdollarswerebeingmadebyorganisersoftheBrooklineeventthatyear.
Therewasplentyofbacklashinthem
