United States captain Keegan Bradley has defended the decision to pay American players for playing at this week’s Ryder Cup.
The 12 members of the home side at Bethpage Black, plus Bradley, will each be awarded $500,000 after the event.
Of that amount, $300,000 will be donated to a charity of the individual’s choice with the remainder handed to them directly. There had previously only been a charitable element.
European players are not paid for their involvement.
The change in policy by the US comes after a furore at the last event in Rome two years ago when Patrick Cantlay did not wear a team hat, reportedly in silent protest at the lack of a personal payment.
Bradley said: “The PGA of America came to me. They wanted to bring the Ryder Cup into the present day.
“The charity dollars hadn’t changed since 1999 and they asked me to sort of shepherd their way into making it into 2025.
“This was what we decided. We felt like this was the best way to do it. We copied a lot of what the Presidents Cup does.
“We did the best we could. I think the players are going to do a lot of good with this money, and I think it’s great.”
There have been no calls on the European side for payments to be made.
Bradley’s opposite number Luke Donald, who oversaw Europe’s victory in Rome, said last year he did not believe players should be paid.
Team talisman McIlroy went even further, saying he would “pay for the privilege” of being involved.
Speaking at a press conference at Bethpage, Bradley said: “I’m not concerned about what Europe does or what they think. I’m concerned about what my team is doing.”
Asked if he regretted how the optics looked, given the finances in the sport, Bradley said: “I don’t really get that. You can say that but I think that the players are really good people and are going to do a lot of good things.”
For his part, Bradley has revealed he will donate his entire $500,000 allocation to charity but will not put that pressure on others.
“I think for everyone it’s a personal decision,” he said.
The 45th Ryder Cup begins on Friday with the US considered favourites to regain the title.
Bradley came close to qualifying for the team himself but, after finishing 11th in the standings, opted not to select himself as one of his six captain’s picks.
The 39-year-old said: “I’ve thought about it every second but I’ve also thought about how impossible it would be.
“I feel like I’ve been called for a bigger cause here but, in the back of my mind, I’m always thinking, ‘I could have been out there’.”
Total eligible population
About 57.5 million people
51.1 million received a jab
6.4 million have not
Where are the unvaccinated?
England 11%
Scotland 9%
Wales 10%
Northern Ireland 14%
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Freedom Artist
By Ben Okri (Head of Zeus)
The biog
Place of birth: Kalba
Family: Mother of eight children and has 10 grandchildren
Favourite traditional dish: Al Harees, a slow cooked porridge-like dish made from boiled cracked or coarsely ground wheat mixed with meat or chicken
Favourite book: My early life by Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah
Favourite quote: By Sheikh Zayed, the UAE's Founding Father, “Those who have no past will have no present or future.”
'Gold'
Director:Anthony Hayes
Stars:Zaf Efron, Anthony Hayes
Rating:3/5
Winners
Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)
Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)
Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)
Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)
Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)
Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)
On Instagram: @WithHopeUAE
Although social media can be harmful to our mental health, paradoxically, one of the antidotes comes with the many social-media accounts devoted to normalising mental-health struggles. With Hope UAE is one of them.
The group, which has about 3,600 followers, was started three years ago by five Emirati women to address the stigma surrounding the subject. Via Instagram, the group recently began featuring personal accounts by Emiratis. The posts are written under the hashtag #mymindmatters, along with a black-and-white photo of the subject holding the group’s signature red balloon.
“Depression is ugly,” says one of the users, Amani. “It paints everything around me and everything in me.”
Saaed, meanwhile, faces the daunting task of caring for four family members with psychological disorders. “I’ve had no support and no resources here to help me,” he says. “It has been, and still is, a one-man battle against the demons of fractured minds.”
In addition to With Hope UAE’s frank social-media presence, the group holds talks and workshops in Dubai. “Change takes time,” Reem Al Ali, vice chairman and a founding member of With Hope UAE, told The National earlier this year. “It won’t happen overnight, and it will take persistent and passionate people to bring about this change.”
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