Dame Laura Davies has given her verdict on the American team getting paid to play in the Ryder Cup and why the Europeans would never do the same
Dame Laura Davies has blasted the American squad saying it’s ‘ridiculous’ they are receiving payment to compete in the Ryder Cup and the notion of the Europeans following suit would make Seve Ballesteros ‘turn in his grave’.
The highest scoring Solheim Cup star of all time hit out at the hosts after their pleas to be dealt in for their efforts were finally heeded and for the first time in the tournament’s illustrious 98-year history one of the teams will pick up an appearance fee.
Team USA will be paid a £148,000 ‘stipend’ while Luke Donald’s Europe won’t be and Davies reckons it’s a farce that the home team’s players are lining their pockets.
Speaking to BetMGM Davies remarked: “It’s ridiculous that the Americans want to get paid to play.
“My understanding is the majority of the money they are earning is going to charity and I would be shocked if they don’t give it all. If that’s the case or not, it seems they want to make a point and it doesn’t sit right with me.
“Demanding to be paid to play in the Ryder Cup – I have absolutely no idea what they’re thinking.
“The Europeans wouldn’t do it in a million years. Seve [Ballesteros] would turn in his grave if he heard they were doing it – that’s how poor I think what the Americans are doing is.
“Europe has too much respect for the team and playing for the European flag to do anything like that. These golfers are getting so much money now and, for me, playing in a Ryder Cup is more than enough.”
The 12-time Solheim Cup veteran was also questioned about why team competitions in golf hold such significance and why Europeans perhaps cherish them more than their American rivals.
“You just have to look at Matt Wallace’s reaction in Switzerland to show what playing in Ryder Cups and Solheim Cups means to players,” Davies continued. “Getting on the team means you are part of an elite 12 and that’s very special.
“The norm of 72 holes is very demanding and I think the team format just takes the pressure off. People putt much better and I actually found that the best putting of my career came at Solheim Cups because you are trying to hole everything – the sense of freedom is something players respond really well to.
“Of course there are nerves on the first tee, but I promise that the moment you walk down the fairway it’s the most fun you can ever have.
“At the end of the day, it’s playing golf with your mates in front of the loudest crowds you’ll ever play in front of.
“I think that’s where the Europeans and Americans differ slightly in that the Europeans travel around a lot together and the majority of them are really good friends off the course.
“I don’t think the Americans have that – they quite often travel separately and the camaraderie perhaps isn’t the same.
“You see when a European wins, all of their fellow countrymen or women come onto the green and celebrate with them. You don’t get that so much with the Americans.”
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