Exclusive: Colin Montgomerie Criticises American Players Looking To Cash In On Ryder Cup

European legend Colin Montgomerie says he would have paid to play in the Ryder Cup as he criticised the prospect of American players receiving money to line up in the biennial matches next year.

Ryder Cup No Longer a Privilege to Play? 

The 12 US players competing at next year's 45th staging of the contest against Europe at Bethpage Black in New York will reportedly each earn $400,000.

It would be the first time in the 97-year history of the event that players have received money for playing.

Montgomerie, who played on eight European teams and never lost a singles match, believes the move fits in with the narrative of “the wealthy becoming wealthier” as a result of the emergence of LIV Golf.

“What we're talking about is the evil word, money. And it can destroy a lot of things,” said Montgomerie, who won eight Order of Merit titles on the European Tour.

“And I think that golf has been has been part of that, and we are now talking about one team getting paid to play in the Ryder Cup."

“My God, I mean, I would have paid to play in it, to have the honour to play in the Ryder Cup, never mind wanting money to do so. So there's something a little bit awry with players being paid to play."

“It leaves a sour taste. You can’t have a competition where one team’s being paid and the other isn’t.”

Montgomerie would be happy to see LIV golfers Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton – stars of the 2023 victory at Marco Simone - on the European team.

“We need them. They are great players and they bring passion. I played with Seve Ballesteros and he had that passion and it transmits to the rest of the team,” he added.

“So all European fans will be hoping they work something out and those two players in particular are on the team.”

Montgomerie - playing in his final event of the year, the Legends Tour’s MCB Championship at Belle Mare Plage – hopes the LIV circuit and the PGA and DP

Compromise Needed

World tours find a compromise so all the leading players are competing against each other.

“We just want the world’s top golfers to come together to play together and to get back to normality,” added the 61-year-old, who led Europe to victory as captain in the 2010 Ryder Cup.

“To me, it wasn't really broken. So why were we trying to fix it? What I would like to have seen happen is with that extraordinary amount of money - we're talking billions and billions of dollars that have come into the game from Saudi - that it could have been used in a very different way."

“It could have been used for grass-roots golf. It could be used for ladies golf, junior golf, golf in schools."

“That's what I was hoping that money would go to as opposed to make the wealthy wealthier."

“But the powers that be are getting together and let's hope that will come to a positive resolution.”