By: Michael Spiers

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

The Ryder Cup is one of those rare sporting events that just feels different.

Every two years the best from the United States and Europe square off and the pressure is unlike anything else in golf.

Players who are used to grinding for individual trophies suddenly become teammates. The roars are louder. The stage is bigger.

And for as long as most fans can remember, it has always been about pride and passion, not about money.

That is why the latest story about American players getting paid has stirred up so much noise. For the first time the PGA of America is giving each U S player and captain half a million dollars.

Three hundred thousand of it has to go to charity but the other two hundred thousand can go right into a player’s own pocket if he chooses.

That is where the controversy begins. Europe has stayed firm on playing for free. Rory McIlroy even said he would pay for the chance to play in the Ryder Cup. To them it is about history and honor, not about cash.

So which side has it right?

On one hand the American players have a fair point. The Ryder Cup makes a fortune for the PGA of America. Fans buy tickets, merchandise, and even $7,500 gold coins in the merchandise tent.

The television money is huge too. None of it happens without the players. They are the show. So why should they not share in the revenue?

But the flip side is pretty clear too. These golfers are already millionaires.

The lowest paid American Ryder Cupper this year still made more than three million in official earnings. Several made north of eight million.

Does anyone really believe two hundred thousand is going to change their lives? Probably not.

What it does change is the perception. Europe gets to look like they care more. They get to stand on the moral high ground and rally around the idea of playing for nothing but their flag and their tour. That matters in a team competition.

The Europeans love to remind everyone that they are in it for something bigger than themselves. The Americans now have to answer questions about greed and optics.

Even if guys like Patrick Cantlay, Xander Schauffele, Scottie Scheffler and captain Keegan Bradley all say they will donate their full share to charity, the fact that players could keep the money is enough to make the whole thing messy.

Here is the simple answer. Give it all to charity. Every single dollar. Let the Ryder Cup be the one golf event where money is not the headline.

These players have plenty of income from purses, sponsorships, and appearance fees all year long. The Ryder Cup can be different. If the PGA of America wants to spread millions around, do it through foundations, junior golf programs, and local communities.

At the end of the day, fans do not come to Bethpage or watch from home because they want to see rich players get richer.

They come for the drama, the pressure, and the pride. Europe understands that and they use it as fuel. The United States risks losing more than just the moral argument if they cannot embrace the same spirit.

The Ryder Cup is too special to get bogged down in dollars. If American players really want to prove they care just as much as Europe, they should tell the PGA of America to send every penny to charity and then let their golf do the talking.