Xander Schauffele Clarifies Father’s Comments on Ryder Cup Payment
After the recent Ryder Cup, Xander Schauffele’s father, Stefan, caused a stir when he revealed that his son almost lost his spot on the United States team due to his proposed changes to the players’ participation and benefit agreement. Stefan claimed that the PGA of America threatened to remove Xander from the team if he didn’t sign the agreement by a certain deadline, but never provided contact information for their legal counsel.
Adding to the controversy, Patrick Cantlay, Xander’s close friend and usual playing partner, reportedly refused to wear a hat during the event as a protest against players not being paid to participate in the Ryder Cup.
Recently, Xander Schauffele addressed his father’s comments during a press conference at the Zozo Championship in Tokyo, Japan. He expressed his discomfort with his father speaking to the media and acknowledged that things can be twisted in the headlines. However, Xander clarified his father’s intentions, stating that he never directly mentioned players getting paid.
Xander explained, “If you look at what he said, I wasn’t super fired up that he was speaking to media just because I know how things get twisted. He specifically said that if the tournament’s for-profit, then players should get paid. He also said that if it’s charitable—it should be a charitable event most likely and that everything should get donated.”
The golfer believes that the headlines have skewed the message his father intended to convey. Xander clarifies that his father’s comments were not about players getting paid, but about determining whether the tournament is for-profit or charitable. Xander feels that this aspect wasn’t as confusing as portrayed in the media.
Although the controversy surrounding his father’s comments may have been distracting, Xander Schauffele managed to maintain his focus on his golf game. He shot a solid 3-under 67 in the opening round of the Zozo Championship, placing him three shots behind Collin Morikawa.
The incident highlights the ongoing debate about compensating professional golfers for their participation in prominent events like the Ryder Cup. While some argue that players should receive payment for their involvement in for-profit tournaments, others believe that charitable donations should be the main focus for such events.
As the golf world continues to evolve, discussions about the compensation of players and the structure of tournaments are expected to persist.