Tiger Woods Thinks U.S. Ryder Cup Golfers Should Be Paid On 1 Condition

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The argument over whether to pay players at the Ryder Cup has spanned continents, with players from the United States and from Europe weighing in.

Players like Rory McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay have had their voices heard, and now it appears that the world's most famous and well-known golfer has an opinion of his own.

Tiger Woods, who has competed in eight Ryder Cups, discussed the matter at his Hero World Challenge event.

Woods said that he would like to see players get paid, but that the money should go toward growing the game in their local communities throughout America, keeping with the spirit of the Ryder Cup.

"What's wrong with each player, 12 players, getting a million dollars and doling it out to any amazing charities that they're involved in, that they can help out in their hometowns, all the different junior golf associations or endeavors that the members are involved in?," Woods asked.

"We allocate funds to build help our sport or help things that we believe in back home because it's so hard to get onto that team. There are only 12 guys."

He also explained his stance on asking to be paid back at the 1999 Ryder Cup, noting that players wanted the money to go to charity.

"We didn't want to get paid; we wanted to give more money to charity," he said about the conversation at the event 25 years ago.

PARIS, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 27: Tiger Woods of the United States during practice prior to the 2018 Ryder Cup at Le Golf National on September 27, 2018 in Paris, France. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

"The media turned it around against us and said we want to get paid. No, the Ryder Cup makes so much money, why can't we allocate it to various charities?"

Woods and his teammates helped establish a $200,000 donation on each player's behalf to a charity of his choosing, but the legendary golfer says he'd like to see the amount increase.

"Make it clear that whatever money they get will go to charity," Woods reiterated when asked how he'd like to see the matter handled in 2025 and beyond.

"I hope they get $5 million each and donate it all to charity, different charities. I think it's great."

The 2025 Ryder Cup will be held in the United States next September from the Bethpage Black course in Farmingdale, New York.