After Bethpage's setback, ticket prices for the 2027 Ryder Cup are also on the rise
Discount buyers, be advised: The Ryder Cup may cost you a fortune.
Again.
On Wednesday, organizers of the 2027 Ryder Cup announced that tickets for the three-day event 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 realm of ticket prices for the 2025 Ryder Cup in Bethpage, where the $750 gate fee has drawn months of controversy from golf fans concerned about what they see as price gouging. At the time of Bethpage's announcement, the PGA of America, which operates the Ryder Cups held on American soil, opposed the fair price tickets for other “Stage 1” sporting events, such as the Super Bowl, and said that the ticket prices are intended to cut off secondary market sales, which transfer large profits to those who buy at a nominal value and then resell.
For a while, it looked like the PGA of America was contradicting itself: secondary market prices for the Bethpage Ryder Cup rose to more than $1,000 per ticket before the event, and reached $1,500 for single matches on Sunday afternoon. But then something unexpected happened: The Europeans beat the Americans in the first two days at Bethpage, and the economy of the event quickly collapsed. At 7pm on Saturday, those trying to sell Ryder Cup tickets on the secondary market could not: Ticket prices dropped by almost 60 percent. face value, about $300 per ticket.
Bethpage's story seems to present a cautionary tale to the DP World Tour, which runs Ryder Cup Europe. The PGA of America called many local fans and raised the pressure on those who could afford tickets; the resulting scene produced an ugly, drunken affair where almost everyone – organizers, players, fans and security – left upset.
The situation was also a reminder that the in-person Ryder Cup experience rarely equates to championship golf. During the first two days of the Ryder Cup, most fans are packed into a few selected holes, where viewing opportunities are limited. The excitement on those holes can be exciting, and the environment can be electric, but that's assuming the golf is competitive, which isn't a guarantee. And if golf isn't competitive come Sunday morning, it's hard to get much interest from anyone.
Thankfully, Ryder Cup Europe has learned a few lessons from its American counterparts. According to the organizers of the tournament, a special window will be provided to buy tickets for Irish residents, which will ensure that local people buy opportunities. Practice tickets will also be more affordable than in Bethpage, with $105 tickets for Tuesday and Wednesday warm-ups, and $200 tickets for Thursday, including access to the Opening Ceremony. Tickets for minors during practice days will be available for approximately $25-35.
The increase in Ryder Cup ticket prices should not come as a shock. The financial records of both Ryder Cup organizers (the PGA of America and the DP World Tour) show that the event plays a major role in the financial picture of each. Also, because Ryder Cups are only played every two years, that means the money-making opportunities are very important.
For those who want access to the Ryder Cup when it comes closer to their hometown, though? Well, you better save your shekels … or get ready for a practice round.
The Ryder Cup in Adare Manor, Ireland, will be played from September 17-19, 2027.
