New York Golf Fans To Be Surprised With 3,000 Free Ryder Cup Tickets

The PGA of America has announced a 'People's Park' giveaway that will see local golf fans given free tickets to the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black

The Ryder Cup trophy stands in front of the first tee at Bethpage Black
(Image credit: Getty Images)

There was uproar in many quarters when the price of Ryder Cup tickets was announced, but now the PGA of America has revealed that thousands will be up for grabs - for free!

In what's being called 'The People's Perk', the PGA of America will randomly hand out 3,000 tickets for the event at Bethpage Black to local residents in the New York area.

Over the next few months in the build-up to the Ryder Cup, golfers playing at Bethpage and a select few other public courses on Long Island and in the New York Metro area will be surprised by free tickets.

PGA of America officials and special Ryder Cup guests will show up at the courses selected without any notice to hand out pairs of tickets for all six days of the action.

Local first responders and community groups will also benefit from free tickets, with 500 available for each of the three practice days and three tournament days totalling 3,000 in all.

"The People's Perk is a special way for us to celebrate the unparalleled dedication and enthusiasm of the New York golf community by providing them with a memorable experience at the 2025 Ryder Cup," said PGA of America president Don Rea Jr.

"The PGA of America is proud to share the excitement of golf's greatest team event with our host community.

"We cannot wait to welcome the lucky ticket recipients this September as we all rally behind captain Keegan Bradley and the United States team."

Tickets for the Ryder Cup are right up there with The Masters in how difficult they are to get hold of, with demand far outstripping supply.

Rory McIlroy and Luke Donald celebrate Ryder Cup success in Rome in 2023

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Although there was controversy about the hefty $750 price tag on Ryder Cup tickets, the PGA of America revealed back in November that the three match days had already sold out.

The PGA of America said that demand was "enormous" and that over half a million fans entered the random ballot to see Team USA try to wrestle the trophy back from Luke Donald's European team.

The PGA of America defended the prices after facing all the criticism, saying that as a "Tier One" event and one that was on many people's bucket lists, it should be priced as such.

In response to the ticket price criticism, the host organisation may hope it will help locals in the New York area feel more involved in what has rapidly become one of the biggest sporting events on the world stage.

Paul Higham
Contributor

Paul Higham is a sports journalist with over 20 years of experience in covering most major sporting events for both Sky Sports and BBC Sport. He is currently freelance and covers the golf majors on the BBC Sport website.  Highlights over the years include covering that epic Monday finish in the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor and watching Rory McIlroy produce one of the most dominant Major wins at the 2011 US Open at Congressional. He also writes betting previews and still feels strangely proud of backing Danny Willett when he won the Masters in 2016 - Willett also praised his putting stroke during a media event before the Open at Hoylake. Favourite interviews he's conducted have been with McIlroy, Paul McGinley, Thomas Bjorn, Rickie Fowler and the enigma that is Victor Dubuisson. A big fan of watching any golf from any tour, sadly he spends more time writing about golf than playing these days with two young children, and as a big fair weather golfer claims playing in shorts is worth at least five shots. Being from Liverpool he loves the likes of Hoylake, Birkdale and the stretch of tracks along England's Golf Coast, but would say his favourite courses played are Kingsbarns and Portrush. 

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