One of America’s emerging stars may have dealt his hopes of a Ryder Cup debut in September a huge blow by claiming players are “just a slave that week” and raising the possibility of a boycott of the event in future.

Hunter Mahan lies 12th on the United States points table with just two weeks left in their qualifying race.

The top eight earn automatic spots on Paul Azinger’s team, although with Tiger Woods ruled out by injury the player in ninth will be assured of a place.

In the latest edition of the American magazine “Golf”, Mahan re-opened the debate over whether players should be paid to appear in the biennial match, an issue which caused controversy in the United States camp in 1999.

The 26-year-old is currently 12th in the United States points list and has a real chance of making Paul Azinger’s teamf or Valhalla.

However, despite featuring on America’s Presidents Cup team last year, Mahan is not overly keen on competing in the Ryder Cup.

“From what I’ve heard, the whole week is extremely long. You’ve got dinners every night - not little dinners, but huge, massive dinners. I know, as players, that’s the last thing we want to do,” Mahan told Golf magazine.

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