Team Europe captain Luke Donald continued a tradition of gifting watches to the members of his Ryder Cup team in what appears to be an attempt to head-off any rows over pay.
The 12 golfers on Team USA are set to receive $400,000 each for their participation in the tournament at Bethpage Black on Long Island.
Meanwhile, turmoil in the European camp appears to have been assuaged by Donald gifting Rolex watches to not only each player on the team – but their caddies, wives and girlfriends as well.
According to The Telegraph, each watch is engraved with the team’s logo and the date of the tournament on the back of the case.
These gifts were funded by the DP World Tour, which purchased the watches directly from the Swiss brand. However, it’s assumed that due to Rolex’s sponsorship of the tournament and the European golf circuit, they were purchased at a discount.
‘There is no indication at all that our players may move in that direction and we want to keep it that way,’ a team insider told the outlet. ‘It’s a concession from us to keep the players onside with not getting paid.
European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald gifted a Rolex to each team member, their caddies, and their wives and girlfriends before the start of the event at Bethpage Black
It’s unclear which model watch Donald gave them (seen on wrist, a Rolex Submariner Date)
‘We want to make this all about the unique experience that it is for all that overrides any direct payment and keeps that wolf from the door. It also helps with making it a more level playing field for the caddies.’
It’s unclear which style of Rolex was gifted to the players, their wives, the captains, and the caddies. It’s also not clear if they were all the same watch.
At the team photo for Team Europe, Donald appeared to be wearing a Rolex Submariner Date with a blue dial and bezel on an Oystersteel and yellow gold bracelet.
On the Rolex website, that watch retails for $17,600.
While a very nice token gesture, it pales in comparison to the riches that the PGA of America is bestowing upon the likes of Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, and Bryson DeChambeau.
In addition to the $400k they’ll be taking home for simply playing, the Americans are also being given $300k to be donated to the charity of their choice.
Another $200k is set to be given to Team USA players an allowance to be spent in whichever way they see fit – with the shops and sights of New York City merely 35 miles away.
It’s the first time that players will be directly compensated for their participation in the tournament. In the past, the PGA of America gave $200k to charity per player on behalf of each golfer on the team.
