Patrick Reed slams decision to pay USA players for the Ryder Cup

Patrick Reed has slammed the decision to pay the American players for competing at this year's Ryder Cup while also paying tribute to the "brotherhood and camaraderie" in the European team.

Reed took aim at the PGA of America after his opening 3-under 69 in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, having previously said he would not be watching the action at Bethpage Black.

The former Masters champion was overlooked for a captain's pick by Keegan Bradley, and he has no intention of tuning in.

"I'll definitely be rooting for the boys," he said. "But it's one of those things that I don't watch golf when I'm at home. I realised that when I had my two little ones, I mean, there's life outside of golf.

"So, when I'm not practicing or playing, I'm home being a dad, being a husband, being a father, and all that. Just having a good time rather than trying to be so tuned in to golf and watching other golfers play."

Reed, who made the last of his three Ryder Cup appearances in 2018, has now said it is “unnecessary” for Team USA to receive payment for the contest in New York.

The 12 players, and the captain, will all be paid $500,000, although they are required to donate at least $300,000 of that to a charity of their choosing.

Despite the charitable element, Reed feels that just being a part of the Ryder Cup experience is reward enough.

“I never played in that event and cared about playing it for money,” he told reporters at Wentworth on Thursday. “It was all about playing, representing my country and trying to win the Cup. 

"It’s just like playing in the Olympics; once every four years and it just means something to go out there and play for your country. There’s no dollar amount that I would want to play in a Ryder Cup or play in an Olympics.

“I really think it is unnecessary. There are certain events that money means absolutely nothing and that’s one of them. If you’re going to give money to players, have it all go to their charity or something like that. Do something good with it.”

Reed, who also competed in last week's Amgen Irish Open at The K Club, continues to be impressed with Europe's team ethic, believing the US still have a lot to learn about coming together for the biggest team event in golf.

“They’re all eating together,” he added. “The actual brotherhood and camaraderie out here, you don’t really have in the States. Here, you’re jumping country to country, not state to state. So travel just comes out that much harder.

“I feel like they play a lot of team golf over here, growing up and everything. We don’t, even though you’re playing high school, college, there’s not a lot of team format. It’s go out, play individual. You count four, five scores and you move on. 

"That’s definitely an edge that they have over here, the camaraderie and the tightness of the group. But I feel like we’ve recognised that in the US, and we’re working on it.”