GBR Weekly | Ryder Cup 2025, Can Representing Your Country Be Priced At $400,000?
More controversy relating to next year's Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black. Could a deal have been struck that will see qualifying players for the U.S. team be paid for representing their country?
Hello GBR Community,
We are less than a year away from the bi-annual blockbuster that is the Ryder Cup.
Headlines haven’t centered around topics such as qualifying criteria or how the daunting Bethpage Black will be set up for the latest installment of the U.S.A. vs. Europe showdown.
Instead, we have been more focused on the inflated prices of day tickets during the competition, which have nearly tripled since the last time the tournament was staged in the U.S. at Whistling Straights.
Even volunteers who give up their time to help make the event run smoothly have been asked to pay for the privilege.
Now, it appears a new controversy is brewing. Are U.S. players about to be paid if they qualify for the team?
We’ll take a look at:
Where has the story come from?
Is there any truth to it?
Are European team members likely to be paid starting next year?
Any comments from the PGA of America and players from both teams?
Sergio Garcia has paid his outstanding fines and rejoined the DP World Tour. Now the war is over between Garcia and the DP World Tour, could he qualify for the European team?
But before that, we bring you details of the other major stories in the business world of golf this week, including:
President-elect Trump’s meetings with Jay Monahan and Yasir al-Rumayyan.
Cleveland Golf brings back an updated classic for 2025.
Emirates Airlines extends its official airline partnership with the DP World Tour.
LIV Golf announces two new venues as part of its 2025 calendar.
Europe’s premier indoor golf club, Pitch, announces new London venue.
Smash Golf Club announces new partnership with JUST Water.
PGA Tour approves restructured 2026 schedule.
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President-Elect Trump Meets Monahan and Al-Rumayyan
President-elect Donald Trump could prove to be true to his word about settling a deal between the PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and the Saudi sovereign PIF fund in 15 minutes.
The Washington Post’s Rick Maese wrote a story over the weekend outlining a series of high-profile meetings in the past week with PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan and the head of the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund (PIF), Yasir al-Rumayyan, increasing speculation that Trump could prove pivotal in getting a deal sorted out.
According to reports, Trump made the initial approach to Monahan, and the two played golf at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, at the end of last week.
On Saturday evening, Trump attended a UFC event and sat beside al-Rumayyan and Elon Musk.
The heightened speculation that the timeframe for a deal to be struck is speeding up started with Trump’s comment in a recent “Let’s Go!” podcast aired just before the election, in which he claimed he could have a deal sorted out in 15 minutes.
Trump’s claim raised eyebrows in the golf world, as negotiations are ongoing even though a resolution was tabled for 31st December 2023.
Trump went on to note during the podcast that he believes there should be only one tour with the best players competing against each other—a sentiment shared by most golf fans today.
Key Developments in Trump's Involvement
Meetings with Key Figures: On Friday, Trump played golf with PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan at Trump International Golf Club in Florida, and on Saturday, he was seen ringside at Madison Square Garden, seated next to PIF Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan and tech billionaire Elon Musk during a UFC event.
Background on the Partnership Talks: The PGA Tour and PIF initially agreed to collaborate in June 2023, ending a contentious legal battle, but final terms remain unresolved. Antitrust concerns and scrutiny from the Justice Department have slowed progress. A potential Trump administration could take a different approach, potentially easing regulatory hurdles.
Reactions from the Golf World
Rory McIlroy, a key voice in professional golf, suggested Trump’s close ties to both golf and Saudi Arabia could make him instrumental in the negotiations, especially with figures like Elon Musk involved. However, McIlroy added that Trump’s presidency would likely place golf lower on his list of priorities.
Trump’s courses have hosted five LIV Golf events, cementing his connections to the Saudi-backed league. His relationships with both Monahan and Rumayyan further position him as a mediator in the talks.
Broader Implications for Golf
Potential Deal Structure: Initially pitched as a merger, the partnership may now take the form of a Saudi investment in the PGA Tour, enabling collaboration between the two circuits while LIV Golf continues to operate independently.
Future of the Game: With LIV Golf already planning its 2025 season, any agreement could reshape professional golf, consolidating talent and potentially resolving the sport's fragmented state.
High-Profile Company at the UFC Event
The UFC event at Madison Square Garden also highlighted Trump’s connections to a wide array of influential figures. Seated near him were Elon Musk, Tulsi Gabbard, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and House Speaker Mike Johnson, showcasing a network that could influence both his presidency and his efforts in golf.
In Case You Missed It
Cleveland Golf Revamps A Classic
Cleveland Golf is bringing back one of its classic lines with the all-new 2025 HiBore XL Drivers.
The HiBore XL’s distinctive triangular shape supports an expanded face profile with a 19% larger sweet spot compared to the Launcher XL 2, leading to straighter ball flights, increased ball speed, and improved performance on off-center hits.
ActivWing technology enhances downswing stability, ensuring consistency and downrange performance.
Internal ribbing and a stiffened sole and crown reduce vibrations, providing an audibly optimized response at impact—a standout improvement over previous HiBore models.
Additional Technologies:
MainFrame XL: A.I.-optimized variable thickness pattern enlarges the sweet spot and maximizes energy transfer for consistent ball speed and forgiveness.
Action Mass CB: An 8g counterweight in the shaft enhances control and stability during the swing, ensuring a balanced feel throughout.
Dialling the HiBore XL for maximum performance comes in the form of a 12g adjustable weight at the rear and a 1.5-degree adjustable hosel sleeve to get the loft and lie angle just right.
Cleveland is offering the HiBore XL Lite for players with slower swing speeds. This ultralight version, designed to combat slicing tendencies, features a slight draw bias and incorporates MainFrame XL for enhanced forgiveness and ball speed while maintaining stability and MOI.
Available from 6th December, both versions of the HiBore XL will carry an RRP of $399.99 (£315, €380).
The Short Game
Emirates Airlines has extended its partnership as the DP World Tour's Official Airline and Marketing Partner until 2031. The multi-year agreement ensures Emirates remains integral to the DP World Tour, offering branding throughout the season, premium hospitality, exclusive Pro-Am experiences, and 15 Official Tournament Partner sponsorships annually. Emirates has played a key role in the DP World Tour's success, flying over 800 professional golfers to Dubai since 2009 and helping attract more than 60,000 fans annually to the DP World Tour Championship, where golf’s greatest names compete for the Race to Dubai title. | More info: Courtesy of DP World Tour.
LIV Golf has expanded its 2025 league schedule by adding two new venues: the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club in South Korea, which hosted the 2015 Presidents Cup, and The Club at Chatham Hills in Indiana, which will host the season’s final individual event. The South Korea event is the league’s fourth Asian stop in 2025, joining Riyadh, Hong Kong, and Singapore, while the Indiana event will decide the 2025 LIV Golf League Individual Champion and finalize team seedings for the 2025 Team Championship. The league has already announced it will revisit previous locations, including Bolingbrook Golf Club for LIV Golf Chicago, Maridoe Golf Club for LIV Golf Dallas, Real Club Valderrama for LIV Golf Andalucía, and JCB Golf & Country Club for LIV Golf UK. | More info: Courtesy of LIV Golf.
Pitch, Europe’s premier indoor golf club, is set to open its new flagship location, Pitch Wharf, in January 2025 at 30 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London, in partnership with WeWork. Spanning 14,500 sq ft, the venue will feature 11 cutting-edge golf bays, an Academy for expert-led lessons, two stylish bars, and a lounge for events, networking, and entertainment. Pitch Wharf will include retail space, a first-class restaurant on WeWork’s Promenade, live music, shuffleboard, a waterside terrace, and innovative virtual mini-golf games like Party Putt and Cannon Bowl, blending fun, competition, and socialization. Catering to everyone from seasoned pros to beginners, the venue offers fast-paced multiplayer games and virtual challenges on world-renowned courses like Pebble Beach and St Andrews. | More info: Pitch Golf.
Brooks Koepka’s LIV Golf team, Smash GC, has partnered with JUST Water, the eco-friendly spring water brand founded by Jaden Smith, for the 2025 season. The deal, spearheaded by Koepka as team GM, alongside JUST CEO Will Holsworth and Smash’s commercial sales director Brian Thompson, marks the brand’s first foray into sports sponsorship. JUST Water becomes Smash GC’s official hydration partner, with players using the product during LIV events. The brand will also feature prominently in the team’s hospitality units at 2025 tournaments, showcasing its presence in over 5,000 U.S. grocery stores, including Target. | More info: Smash Golf.
PGA Tour Board Approves Competitive Restructuring Recommendations
The PGA Tour Policy Board has approved a series of competitive changes designed to enhance the experience for fans, players, and partners while addressing feedback from the Tour’s membership.
These updates, which take effect in the 2025 and 2026 seasons, focus on field size adjustments, eligibility refinements, and updates to the FedExCup points system to ensure equitable opportunities and create stronger competitive dynamics.
Key Changes to PGA Tour Membership and Eligibility
Eligibility Adjustments: Starting in 2026, exempt status will shift from the top 125 to the top 100 in the FedExCup standings, with conditional status for players ranked 101-125. Korn Ferry Tour cards will decrease from 30 to 20, while 10 cards from the DP World Tour and 5 from PGA Tour Q-School will remain unchanged.
Open Qualifiers: Field sizes for Open events will adjust to:
144 players: 4 qualifying spots (unchanged)
132 players: 2 qualifying spots
120 players: No qualifying spots
Sponsor Exemptions: Restricted sponsor exemptions will be reallocated to the next eligible players on the Priority Ranking, promoting more equitable access for PGA Tour members.
Field Size Adjustments for Smoother Play
The maximum field size for Open tournaments will be reduced from 156 to 144 players, with additional reductions to 132 or 120 players when necessary.
The Players Championship will now feature a 120-player field, and tournaments with multiple courses, like the Farmers Insurance Open, will play with fields capped at 144 players.
These changes aim to improve the pace of play, ensure 36-hole cuts are made on schedule, and enhance fan engagement with more predictable weekend storylines.
Updates to the FedExCup Points System (Effective 2025)
Majors and The Players: Slight increase to second-place points, with minor reductions for positions 11 and beyond.
Signature Events: Adjustments include slight decreases to points for positions 7 and beyond.
These modifications reflect input from players and are designed to create a more balanced and equitable points structure.
Additional Changes to Enhance Competitiveness
Top-10 finishers and ties, including amateurs, will now gain access to the next Open event.
The PGA Tour Accelerated program will award an additional point for top-five finishes to recognize elite performances.
Invitational tournaments like The Players, Charles Schwab Challenge, and Genesis Scottish Open will align eligibility structures with updated Tour standards.
“Today’s announced changes build on the competitive and schedule enhancements incorporated over the last six years in seeking the best version of the PGA Tour for our fans, players, tournaments and partners. This was a true collaborative effort, and I’m extremely proud of the PAC for the time and effort they put into evaluating how we build a stronger PGA Tour.” - Jay Monahan, PGA Tour Commissioner.
“The player representatives of the PGA Tour recognize the need to be continually improving its offerings to enhance the golf fan experience. The changes approved today will provide equitable playing opportunities for new young talent to be showcased, and positively refine the playing experience for our members.” - Adam Scott, PGA Tour Policy Board Player Director.
2025 U.S. Ryder Cup Players Will Be Paid $400,00
Controversy continues to build ahead of next year’s Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black.
If the story proves true, it could have serious implications for the future of the Ryder Cup: