Europe have "moral high ground" in payment debate, claims Ryder Cup legend

Paul McGinley has paid tribute to Europe for their collective stance over the payment controversy that has been a huge talking point ahead of this week's Ryder Cup at Bethpage.

The Team USA players have been widely criticised for "forcing through" a deal to be paid to play in New York, each receiving $500,000 of which they are required to donate at least $300,000 to charity.

USA captain Keegan Bradley is donating his entire cheque to charity, although he was reluctant to elaborate on his and the players' plans for their money as he awkwardly fended off questions on the subject at his first press conference of the week on Monday.

There was an unsavoury rumpus in Rome two years ago when Patrick Cantlay refused to wear a team cap while on the course, apparently as a protest for not getting paid for the week.

A row ensued when veteran caddie Joe LaCava and the US squad waved hats in celebration after Cantlay made a crucial putt on the final green on day two, prompting an angry reaction from Rory McIlroy and many of his European team-mates.

Team Europe refused extra payment for playing in the Ryder Cup this year, and that's a decision that McGinley, who stated last week that paying the American players was a huge mistake by the PGA of America, feels has given them the "moral high ground" ahead of this week's showdown.

"The Americans have been chasing this for a while and they’ve got their way eventually," said the 2014 winning European captain on Sky Sports. "Players have a lot of leverage in the game at the moment, they have forced the issue on it and the PGA of America have let them do that.

"Our players have a different view, and collectively they all said 'no'. They would prefer to see more money invested in the team, and that means more money going back to the PGAs of Britain, Ireland and Europe as well as the European Tour.

"They’re all making enough money elsewhere in the game, and they all took the view that the Ryder Cup should be sacrosanct, that it should be different.

"They also want to honour the players that came before them, who never got paid for playing in the Ryder Cup, and I think they’re to be admired for that.

"I do think that Europe have the moral high ground on this, and it’ll be interesting to see how it plays out and if it develops into a bigger story during the week."

Bradley was asked a number of questions on the subject as he faced the media alongside Luke Donald at Bethpage on Monday, and his reaction and tone made it clear the whole issue is very sensitive.

"Well, I'm not concerned about what Europe does or what they think," he said. "I'm concerned about what my team is doing. I was tasked with a job the PGA of America asked me to do, and this was what we decided. 

"We wanted to bring the Ryder Cup into today's age, and 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, and I think a lot of good is going to come from this. I think the players are going to do a lot of good with this money, and I think it's great.

"I think for everyone it's a personal decision. A lot of guys aren't comfortable sharing what they're going to do with their money, but we're going to donate."