Sports — Golf

Are the participants in the Walker Cup compensated financially?

The Walker Cup competition represents the peak of amateur team golf, yet the twenty participants hailing from the USA, UK, and Ireland, are reportedly uncompensated for their performances.

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2025 September 16 . 11:29 AM

2 min read

Is there financial compensation for players participating in the Walker Cup?

Are the participants in the Walker Cup compensated financially?

The Walker Cup, one of the most prestigious amateur golf competitions, returns in 2025, taking place at Cyprus Point in California, USA. This highly anticipated event will pit teams from the United Kingdom and Ireland against their counterparts from America.

The tournament spans two days, with foursomes in the mornings and singles in the afternoons. On Day One, golf enthusiasts in the UK can catch the action from 5:30pm to 8:30pm on Sky Sports Golf, and from 12:00am to 3:00am on the same channel. In the USA, the broadcast will be available from 12:30pm to 3:30pm on Peacock, and from 7:00pm to 10:00pm on the Golf Channel/NBC Sports App. On Day Two, the UK broadcast will air from 5:30pm to 8:30pm on Sky Sports Golf, and from 12:00am to 3:00am on Sky Sports Golf, while the US broadcast will be from 12:30pm to 3:30pm on Peacock, and from 7:00pm to 10:00pm on the Golf Channel/NBC Sports App.

The USA team is expected to shine, with all members tipped for bright futures in the professional golf game. The top five players from the team are Jackson Koivun, Ben James, Ethan Fang, Preston Stout, and Jase Summy. Notable participants from the UK and Ireland include Ian Poulter's son Luke and Scottish star Niall Shiels Donegan.

The Walker Cup is unique in that it is an amateur event, meaning no prize money is involved. This has led to some interesting scenarios in the past, such as Shane Lowry winning the Irish Open as an amateur in 2009 but forgoing the prize money. More recently, Nick Dunlap missed out on a $1.5m prize by winning the American Express due to his amateur status.

The first team to reach 13.5 points wins the Walker Cup, making every match crucial. With the top-ranked American players and the unpredictable nature of golf, this year's competition promises to be a thrilling spectacle. Tune in to Sky Sports Golf in the UK or Peacock and Golf Channel/NBC Sports App in the USA to witness the battle unfold.