For the first time in Ryder Cup history, members of Team U.S. will be compensated with pay and a stipend for participating in the grand event.The PGA of America will pay American players a $200,000 stipend, in addition to a $300,000 charitable donation of each player’s choosing — $500,000 in total. Unlike the Americans, Team Europe won’t be getting paid, a point captain Luke Donald dismissed with a subtle dig at his counterpart to start the week.“This isn’t a week to get paid,” Donald said Monday, via SkySports. “We have such strong purpose in this team, in what we play for, and to be honest we reinvest some of that money back into the experience of these guys.“I feel like, if you have those experiences that you remember for the rest of your life, that’s worth more than a couple hundred thousand dollars in the back of your pocket.”U.S. team captain Keegan Bradley addressed the matter at the opening press conference, with Donald seated beside him, and stood firm on his and his team’s stance.“The PGA of America asked me to help out with this,” Bradley said, “and this is the best way we came up with to do it.”Bradley was pressed with four questions about the new plan and if it gives the impression that the Ryder Cup “means more” to the Europeans, who aren’t being paid to play.Bradley stood ten toes down and didn’t budge.“Well, I’m not concerned about what Europe does or what they think. I’m concerned about what my team is doing,” Bradley said. “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.”It’s been reported that several members of Team U.S., including captain Keegan Bradley, plan to donate their full $500,000 to charity.“I think that’s a personal decision,” Bradley said. “I don’t donate to charities to publicize what we’re doing.Bradley and Donald have mutual respect towards one anotherGettyDonald is confident that Team Europe will come out on top once againGetty“These guys on our team are incredible people, and they do a lot of incredible things with charity dollars and with their foundations.“A lot of them aren’t comfortable sharing that sort of information, and I feel the same way.”The Ryder Cup begins Friday, September 26, at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, New York.