'I won the Ryder Cup as a captain - neither team should be paid to play in it'

In a historic move, the US team members are set to for their participation in next year's tournament. This decision contradicts previous criticism from figures such as Paul McGinley, who captained Europe to victory in the 2014 event.

In October last year, the Irishman dismissed the notion that players should be paid to represent their country or continent, arguing that golfers good enough to participate are likely already financially secure. "Personally, I hope it gets to a place where neither team is paid," the 57-year-old said on the .

"I think the money that top professional golfers earn at the moment is huge on so many different levels. They're all set up for life, no matter what. Once you make a Ryder Cup standard nowadays, you're set up for life anyway, whether it be through your pension fund or whether it be in the prize money you've earned. I think for one tournament every two years it would be great to give back."

Despite the Ryder Cup's enormous commercial appeal and status as one of the most prestigious prizes in all of sport, players have never before been financially compensated in its 97-year existence. However, according to , this is set to change in 2025, but only for the US team.

According to the report, the PGA of America is set to make £4million available to compensate players, with each pocketing a cool £315,000. However, the change isn't expected to be officially announced until a new PGA of America chief is appointed.

No such change is expected to be made for Team Europe players at Bethpage Black next year, with one unnamed player saying: "They [Team USA] can do whatever they want. But we don't want payments in our bank accounts, as it'll be the thin end of the wedge and is not what the Ryder Cup is about.

"Let's face it, a lot of the American players have been angling towards this for years, if not decades. If it does go ahead, then it will be interesting to see how the fans react at Bethpage, although they'll probably announce it as just an extension of what already happens."

Reacting to the news on Thursday, blasted the change: "I'd personally pay for the privilege to play in the Ryder Cup... I don't think any of the 24 players on either team needs that 400 grand. Every two years, there are 104 weeks and 103 weeks you can play golf and get paid."

The revelation comes following reported falling out between members of Team USA during their defeat to Europe at last year's Ryder Cup at Marco Simone. It's understood that Patrick Cantlay stirred controversy by insisting on a pay-to-play stance at the event.

According to , this caused a split in the team's dressing room, illustrated by Cantlay's decision not to wear a cap throughout the three-day event in protest. When questioned on the issue, the American denied his choice to not wear headwear was in protest, but refused to rule out his belief that players should be paid to play.

"The hat doesn't fit. It didn't fit at Whistling Straits, and didn't fit this week. Everyone knows that," he said at Marco Simone last September." Quizzed on whether he felt he should be financially rewarded for wearing red white and blue, Cantlay claimed: "It's not about that. It's just about Team USA and representing our country."

Cantlay isn't the first American to advocate for Ryder Cup payment. back in 1999, telling reporters: "I would like to see us receive whatever the amount is 200, 300, 400, 500,000 dollars.

"Whatever it is and I think we should be able to keep the money and do whatever we see fit," he continued. "Personally, I would donate all of it to charity. But I think it's up to the other person's discretion what they would do with it. With all the money that's being made, I think that we should have a say in where it goes."

McGinley has participated in four Ryder Cups for the Europeans. In his debut in 2002, he secured the Cup with an extraordinary 10-foot putt on the 18th hole to clinch victory for his team. He also led a victorious side in 2014, a result which marked Europe's third consecutive win.