US players will get $200,000 stipend each for playing in Ryder Cup

• Americans will also get $300,000 to give to charity
• Debate over pay for tournament has been hot topic

Players for the US team will be paid to play in the Ryder Cup for the first time under a new PGA of America program announced on Monday that gives them a $200,000 stipend and $300,000 for them to distribute to charity.

The $500,000 directed to each of the 12 players and the captain is an increase from the $200,000 - strictly for charity - that began when the pay-for-play issue first arose in 1999 before the tournament at Brookline.