The PGA of America is facing accusations of pricing out genuine golf fans after hiking up the cost of tickets to next year’s Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black to a staggering $750 (£574) per day.
The ‘RyderCup+’ ticket, which were the cheapest tickets listed on Monday ahead of a ballot sale, does admittedly include “unlimited food and non-alcoholic beverages at all market concessions throughout the grounds at no extra cost” but that is a lot of money to pay for food.
The RyderCup+ ticket is more than five times as expensive as the cheapest daily ticket for this year’s Masters and the US Open, both of which start at $140 (£107). Tickets to the Open started at £110 on tournament days, with the USPGA $148 (£113), rising slightly for Sunday.
The RyderCup+ ticket costs $255 (£195) on the Tuesday and the Wednesday of Ryder Cup week, $423 (£323) on the Thursday, and then $750 on the three days of competition.
The huge price hike also risks creating a schism with PGA Tour players, many of whom already feel aggrieved they do not get paid to play. Last year’s 16.5-11.5 victory for Europe was overshadowed by an ugly spat between PGA management and some players, notably Patrick Cantlay, who felt they should be paid to show up.
Cantlay famously declined to wear a cap, which was said to be in protest. Europe’s fans taunted him by singing songs and waving their caps at him all weekend, although the American responded by playing brilliantly.
Bethpage Black is expected to create an even more raucous and hostile atmosphere than the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, given what occurred in Rome. It is thought the massive price hike may be an attempt to dissuade non-genuine golf fans from attending, in order to try to preserve a bit of order. But it also risks pricing out genuine golf fans, particularly those from Europe, who will already have had to pay large sums to travel over.
The Ryder Cup is by far the biggest cash cow for the PGA of America. The DP World Tour only profits from home matches. Ticket prices for Marco Simone in Rome in 2023 ranged from $53 (£40) to $277 (£212).
Fans will be informed in a few weeks whether they have been successful in the ballot for the 2025 contest which will take place on Long Island from September 26-28.
The PGA of America has been contacted for comment.
