Players on next year’s United States Ryder Cup team will be paid to compete after a package was agreed by the PGA of America.
It will be the first time in the sport’s 98-year history that any side has been paid to play.
The 12 players will each receive $500,000 (£400,000), with $300,000 (£240,000) donated to a charity or charities chosen by each team member.
The PGA of America, which organizes the event, has approved the package although it says “no players have been asked to be compensated”.
Six players will automatically qualify through the points table for the US Ryder Cup and captain Keegan Bradley will select six wildcards.
“Players and managers, past and present, are responsible for making the Ryder Cup the most unique tournament in golf and one of the most sought-after events in international sports,” the PGA of America said in a statement.
Last year’s competition in Rome was marked by Patrick Cantlay not wearing the cap of the American team in what was reportedly a protest, in spite in fact the players were not rewarded for competing.
Europe’s Rory McIlroy said last month he would pay to play in the matches to be held in Bethpage, New York.
“I personally would pay for the right to play in the Ryder Cup,” McIlroy told BBC Sport.
“The two purest forms of competition in our sport right now are the Ryder Cup and the Olympics, and that’s partly because of that, the purity of the lack of money involved.”
