MW The Ryder Cup pours millions into promoting golf. But does the sport even need saving?

By Weston Blasi

While debate swirls around who is or isn't being paid at the Ryder Cup, and where the money is going, here's a look at the state of the sport today

Rory McIlroy of Team Europe smiles Thursday during a practice round prior to the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage State Park Golf Course in Farmingdale, N.Y.

The Ryder Cup golf tournament tees off in Bethpage, Long Island, on Friday, with American and European teams ready to face off in friendly competition before fans, including President Donald Trump, over the next several days. This year, however, much of the conversation surrounding a tournament meant to celebrate and grow the sport of golf has instead centered around money.

That's because while the Ryder Cup has long been known for featuring no clear compensation or prize money for playing - a $200,000 donation in the American players' names was made to their chosen charity, instead - this year, the American golfers will receive $300,000 for charity, plus a $200,000 stipend to use however they want.

"The PGA of America came to me, they wanted to bring the Ryder Cup into the present day," said U.S. captain Keegan Bradley, according to the Associated Press. "The charity dollars hadn't changed since 1999 and they asked me to sort of shepherd their way into making it into 2025."

But while many American players, including Scottie Scheffler and Patrick Cantlay, say they plan to donate both the charity money and the stipend (adding up to $500,000 apiece) this year, a divide has still developed between the American and European teams and their fans over the issue. The Europeans have been vocal about not directly being compensated for participating in the Ryder Cup.

"This isn't a week to get paid," Luke Donald, the European team captain said about the Ryder Cup this week.

"I personally would pay for the privilege to play in the Ryder Cup," golf legend and Team Europe player Rory McIlroy told BBC Sport.

Since 1999, Team USA players have received $200,000 to direct toward charity or grassroots golf organizations. But the European team players have never been paid; instead, all of their revenue from the Ryder Cup has flowed through their pro golf tour (DP World Tour) as well as grassroots golf programs, according to Golf Digest.

So with so much money flowing from the Ryder Cup into grassroots golf programs through both the European and American efforts, it raises the question: What is the state of golf right now?

While some have questioned whether the golf boom is over, these numbers tell a different story.

Some 28.1 million Americans played a round of golf in 2024, the most since 2008, according to data from the National Golf Foundation. Among that group of golfers, 25% were people of color and 28% were female - both record highs.

And earlier this year, the National Golf Foundation told MarketWatch that there are more seniors playing on-course golf than at any time in history.

Read more: New research links golf with living longer. These golfers still swinging in their 70s agree.

"Golf as a sport has never been in a better place," Justin Ehrlich, associate professor of sport analytics at Syracuse University, told MarketWatch. "We're seeing barriers fall away. It's more equitable than it's ever been, more diverse than it's ever been."

'Golf as a sport has never been in a better place.'Justin Ehrlich, associate professor of sport analytics at Syracuse University

Interestingly enough, the COVID-19 pandemic was a major factor in helping pull golf out of a slump that it was experiencing heading into 2020, when national participation was dropping.

Turns out, golf was the perfect social-distancing sport. "COVID was one of those events that boosted the game. Golf was something that people could do to be active and safe during that time," Thomas Rhoads, a professor who focuses on sports at Towson University's Department of Economics, told MarketWatch. "COVID was, in one sense, good for golf."

To be sure, golf has received some criticism over the years for being inaccessible for new players. That has largely had to do with how expensive it is to play a round, or to own your own clubs. And people who live in more urbanized areas where golf courses are rare can struggle to find a place to putt. Or in some cities, beginners may find themselves in an intimidating situation where they finally find a course, only to be paired up with strangers to play a round of 18 holes.

Enter the off-course golf experience.

Off-course golf - aka any golfing activities happening outside of a traditional 18-hole course - has been a key driver to the game's growth. In recent years, golf simulators and activities like Top Golf $(MODG)$ have boomed in popularity. These activities are attractive for those who cannot commit the time or money to a full round of golf; who don't have their own clubs; who are beginners; or who simply don't want to brave a rainy day schlepping across an 18-hole course. It's an easy entry point into the game.

"People just want to hit balls and be at a social event like Top Golf," Rhoads said about golf's new player pipeline. "You just want to spend a couple hours with friends and hit some balls. If you go play Top Golf, or at a simulator, you're more likely to watch a golf event on TV, and then more likely to play a round. You can grow the game with these ancillary activities."

Erlich from Syracuse agreed. "These off-course experiences have exploded. More golf has been played off-course than on-course. That has to do with accessibility," he said. "Especially if you're beginning, it's intimidating playing in a group, Top Golf is full of beginners. You don't feel embarrassed there."

Indeed, off-course golf participation is at 36.2 million, a 55% increase from 2019, according to the National Golf Foundation. On-course golf has increased 16% over the same period to 28.1 million.

Friday's Ryder Cup pay debate may make headlines, but for a sport enjoying a golden age of participation - both on a course or on a simulator - golf's future is looking like a long drive down the middle of the fairway.

-Weston Blasi

This content was created by MarketWatch, which is operated by Dow Jones & Co. MarketWatch is published independently from Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

September 26, 2025 06:05 ET (10:05 GMT)

Copyright (c) 2025 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.