Discount shoppers, be advised: The Ryder Cup might have priced you out.
Again.
On Wednesday, 2027 Ryder Cup tournament organizers announced tickets for the three match days at Adare Manor in Ireland will sell for $585, more than double the cost of the last European Ryder Cup, in Rome in 2023.
The steep increase brings the price of admission into the neighborhood of the ticket prices for the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage, where $750 gate fees drew months of acrimony from golf fans beleaguered by what they perceived to be price-gauging. At the time of the Bethpage announcement, the PGA of America, which operates Ryder Cups held on U.S. soil, contended the tickets were priced accordingly to other “Tier 1” sporting events, like the Super Bowl, and said that ticket prices were aimed at cutting out secondary market sales, which pass along huge profits to those who buy at face value and then resell.
For a while, it seemed the PGA of America’s argument was sound: secondary market prices for the Bethpage Ryder Cup spiked to more than $1,000 per ticket in the lead up to the event, and peaked at $1,500 for Sunday afternoon’s singles matches. But then something unexpected happened: The Europeans stomped the Americans over the first two days at Bethpage, and the economics of the event quickly deteriorated. By 7 p.m. Saturday, those trying to sell Ryder Cup tickets on the secondary market could hardly give them away: Ticket prices had dropped nearly 60 percent below face value, to roughly $300 per ticket.
Bethpage’s ugly Ryder Cup was a feature, not a bug
The Bethpage story seemed to present a cautionary tale for the DP World Tour, which operates Ryder Cup Europe. The PGA of America priced out many local fans and raised the pressure on those who could afford tickets; the resultant environment produced an ugly, drunken affair from which nearly everybody — organizers, players, fans and security — left upset.
The situation also served as a reminder that the in-person Ryder Cup experience is rarely up to par with the rest of tournament golf. Over the first two days of the Ryder Cup, the vast majority of fans are packed into a select few holes, where viewing opportunities are limited. The excitement on those holes can be thrilling, and the environment can be electric, but that’s assuming the golf is competitive, which is no guarantee. And if the golf isn’t competitive come Sunday morning, it’s hard to draw much interest from anyone.
Thankfully, Ryder Cup Europe has learned a few lessons from their American counterparts. According to the tournament organizers, an exclusive ticketing window will be provided for Irish residents, ensuring purchasing opportunities for locals. Practice round tickets will also be considerably more affordable than at Bethpage, with $105 tickets during Tuesday and Wednesday’s warm-up sessions, and $200 tickets for Thursday, which also includes access to the Opening Ceremony. Tickets for juniors during practice days will also be available for roughly $25-35.
The inflation of Ryder Cup ticket prices shouldn’t arrive as a shock. Financial records for both Ryder Cup organizers (the PGA of America and DP World Tour) show that the event plays a major role in the financial picture for each. Also, because Ryder Cups are played only every two years, that means the opportunities to cash in are that much more valuable.
