Tiger Woods believes the United States Ryder Cup players should be paid £4 million, not £315,000, for representing their country but insists all the money should go to charity.
Telegraph Sport exclusively revealed last month that the PGA of America the body that oversees the US arm of the biennial showdown is set to break with nearly 100 years of tradition by transferring $400,000 (£315,000) directly into the bank accounts of each of the 12 golfers who appear under the Stars and Stripes at next years match in New York.
The news created a huge controversy with many disgusted at the apparent greed of the multi-millionaires, which was held up in stark contrast to that of the Europe team. Rory McIlroy announced that he would pay for the privilege to play in the Ryder Cup and revealed that Luke Donalds side had met and collectively decided they would not be seeking the same recompense.
However, Woods is adamant that the payment is the right course of action and declared that it should have been put in place decades ago. We had the same conversation back in 99, Woods said in the Bahamas, where he is promoting this weeks Hero World Challenge. We didnt want to get paid. We wanted to give more money to charity. And the media turned it around against us, and said we want to get paid. No, the Ryder Cup itself makes so much money, why cant we allocate it to various charities?
Whats wrong with each of the 12 players getting a million dollars and giving it out to amazing charities that theyre involved in, that they can help out, whether its their home towns where theyre from, all the different junior golf associations or endeavours that the members are involved in… I hope they get $5 million [£4 million] each, and donate it all to different charities. I think thats great. Whats wrong with that?
Woods was being slightly disingenuous with his comments regarding the media twisting the words of the dissenters in 1999. His great friend Mark OMeara left little doubt of where he thought some of the profits should be allocated.
The players are the ones who make it happen and somehow they could be compensated, maybe with a retirement fund or trust fund for their children, he said.
And at the time, Woods himself also signified it should be up to the player, himself. 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, Woods said. Personally, I would donate all of it to charity. But I think its up to the other persons discretion what they would do with it.
There was inevitable outrage back then and not everyone in the US camp was impressed, especially with David Duvals suggestion of a boycott. The last thing the tour needs is a label put on us as greedy, wimpy, whiny brats, Tom Lehman, the future captain said.
Since that particular storm erupted, the PGA of America which represents more than 30,000 club pros has donated $200,000 (£157,000) per US player, with $100,000 (£78,903) going to junior golf schemes and foundations and the other $100,000 (£78,903) to charities of each participants choice.
Yet that is seemingly not enough for the modern players. The debate raised its ugly head again in last years match in Rome, where Patrick Cantlay was accused of not wearing a USA cap in protest at the lack of financial rewards, and tensions eventually boiled over on the Saturday evening when, in the wake of taunts, McIlroy and Cantlays caddie, Joe LaCava, entered a row that spilled into the car park.
In the aftermath of the heavy US defeat, Stefan Schauffele, the father of world No 2 Xander, who is Cantlays playing partner and close friend, urged the authorities to have the players share in that profit instead of being so damned in-transparent about it.
The PGA of America is moving to act on those demands and despite the backlash, Woodss comments mean there will almost certainly be no about-turn. Sir Nick Faldo ridiculed the Americans, saying that for the Europeans no other motivation is needed except playing for your team-mates and your continent and the current pros were in broad agreement with McIlroy.
Woods, when asked about the oppositions claim that they would pay to play, sought to make a distinction between the two teams. Thats their right to say that, the 15-time major winner said. If the Europeans want to pay to be in the Ryder Cup, thats their decision to do that. Thats their team. I know that when its on European soil it subsidises most of their tour, so it is a big event for the European Tour. If they want to pay to play in it, so be it.
The PGA of America is separate from the PGA Tour, although the latter does receive 20 per cent of the broadcast rights when the match takes place in America.
If Woods sounded certain on this issue, then he was decidedly unsure when it came to his own fitness and on the ongoing negotiations between Saudi Arabias Public Investment Fund and the PGA Tour. Woods has not played competitively since the Open in July and did not offer a timeline of when he might appear next, following his sixth back operation three months ago. The fire still burns to compete, Woods, 48, said. But the body just wont recover like it used to.
He was just as ambiguous about the mooted peace deal and that is a concern because he is closely involved in the discussions with the backers of the LIV Golf breakaway. I think something will get done, but in what form or shape? I dont know yet, Woods said. I just wish we had something more concrete than we have right now.
Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.