Tag: Bethpage Black

While Team USA is worried about being paid to play in the Ryder Cup, Rory McIlroy says he’d ‘pay for the privilege’ to play in the event

“But the Ryder Cup is so much more than that, especially to the Europeans and to this tour.”

On Wednesday, The Telegraph in London reported that members of Team USA at the Ryder Cup will be paid roughly $400,000, and that figure is likely to be ratified. That lines up with what Golfweek reported last month, which was players on the team are set to be paid for next year’s biennial bash at Bethpage Black in New York.

When asked about this report, European stalwart Rory McIlroy said he’d pay his way to participate in the storied battle.

“I personally would pay for the privilege to play on the Ryder Cup,” McIlroy told BBC Sport after the first round of the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, where the Northern Irishman is tied for the lead with Tyrrell Hatton through 18 holes. “The two purest forms of competition in our game right now are the Ryder Cup and the Olympics, and it’s partly because of that, the purity of no money being involved.”

McIlroy then argued there are plenty of opportunities throughout the year to make money on the golf course.

“I don’t think any of the 24 players on either team needs that 400 grand,” he said. “Every two years, there are 104 weeks and 103 weeks you can play golf and get paid.”

He does, however, understand the issue, as the Ryder Cup is one of the largest revenue generators in the game.

“I can see the other side of the argument because the Ryder Cup does create a lot of revenue. It is one of the probably top five biggest sporting events in the world. So I get the argument that the talent should be or could be getting paid.

“But the Ryder Cup is so much more than that, especially to the Europeans and to this tour.”

2023 Ryder Cup
Luke Donald celebrates with Justin Rose, Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Matt Fitzpatrick and teammates of Team Europe after winning the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf Club in Rome, Italy. (Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)

The 26-time PGA Tour winner did reveal that members of Team Europe have spoken with captain Luke Donald about the situation and have determined that the money could be used in different and more beneficial ways.

“We have all had a conversation with Luke about it over the past few weeks because we obviously heard,” he said. “The common consensus among us is that $5 million would be better off spent elsewhere on the DP World Tour to support other events or even to support the Challenge Tour.”

The Ryder Cup has long been about emotion and playing for not only your teammates but country. McIlroy doesn’t want the money to change that.

“I think we would all welcome money if it didn’t change the dynamic but the money really would change the dynamic,” he said.

“That’s why I think everyone is like, let’s not do that.”

Despite hefty price tag, tickets for the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black have sold out

Bethpage Black is going to be rowdy.

Tickets for the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in New York have sold out, according to the PGA of America. The biennial bash between the United States and Europe is slated for Sept. 26-28, 2025.

When ticket prices were released last month, Golf Twitter went into a frenzy over the hefty price tag. Wednesday tickets — practice round — were listed at $255.27, Thursday tickets — celebrity matches, practice round — came in at $423.64 and Friday-Sunday tickets — match days — were available for a whopping $749.51.

Luke Donald will lead Team Europe yet again after his victory in Rome last year, while Keegan Bradley will captain the Americans.

Team USA has won the last two Ryder Cups held in the States (2016, 2021).

Who leads the American, European point standings a year out from 2025 Ryder Cup?

Who’s going to make the teams?

We’re just less than a year from the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, which means it’s time to look at the (way too early) standings for automatic qualification onto the teams.

The qualification process is simple for both sides: the top-six players will earn automatic selections, and then the captains, Keegan Bradley and Luke Donald, will get six picks each to complete the teams.

There’s a new qualification process for the European side this year. There will be only one Ryder Cup Points List operational in the 2024-25 qualification period, which uses points earned in accordance with a new tournament banding structure. With the new system and the qualification process starting only a couple months ago, the rankings for the Europeans will change drastically in the coming months.

Europeans must be members of the DP World Tour, as well. So LIV Golf stars like Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton will be eligible if they meet the DP World Tour’s criteria.

For the Americans, there’s a group of three golfers who stood out in the majors in 2024 who have a big head start to be on the 2025 squad, though every spot remains up for grabs over the next year.

Bradley and Donald spoke Tuesday at a joint press conference, and both discusses the qualification process and about filling out their teams.

Here’s a look at the qualification standings (as of Oct. 8, 2024) for the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black.

American Ryder Cup standings

  1. Xander Schauffele, 9,580.956
  2. Scottie Scheffler, 9,145.556
  3. Bryson DeChambeau, 6,993.000
  4. Collin Morikawa, 2,478.133
  5. Brian Harman, 2,250.561
  6. Billy Horschel, 2,037.223
  7. Wyndham Clark, 1,936.213
  8. Patrick Cantlay, 1,613.255
  9. Russell Henley, 1,600.426
  10. Tony Finau, 1,575.878
  11. Sahith Theegala, 1,234.287
  12. Max Homa, 1,229.883

European Ryder Cup standings

  1. Rasmus Hojgaard, 376.92
  2. Rory McIlroy, 354.07
  3. Matt Wallace, 340.9
  4. Niklas Norgaard, 334.35
  5. Tyrrell Hatton, 295.84
  6. Angel Hidalgo, 269.17
  7. Matteo Manassero, 227.41
  8. Jon Rahm, 205.3
  9. Alfredo Garcia-Heredia, 194.55
  10. Tommy Fleetwood, 185.63
  11. Nicolas Colsaerts, 180.32
  12. Grant Forrest, 158.7

Keegan Bradley names Brandt Snedeker as vice captain for 2025 Ryder Cup

Keegan Bradley is lining up his vice captains.

United States Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley has appointed Brandt Snedeker as one of his vice captains for the 45th Ryder Cup, scheduled for Sept. 26-28, 2025, at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, New York.

This announcement follows Bradley’s earlier appointment of Webb Simpson as a vice captain, and it adds another experienced voice to the the U.S. team’s locker room. Snedeker, 43 is a veteran of two Ryder Cups, boasting a 4-2-0 career record. He was the only undefeated American player in the 2016 Ryder Cup, going 3-0-0 to help the U.S. team defeat Europe 17-11 at Hazeltine National in Chaska, Minnesota.

“As I’ve started preparing for the 2025 Ryder Cup, I quickly realized that Brandt was someone I wanted by my side,” Bradley said in a release. “Having competed in two Ryder Cups, including a stellar individual performance in 2016, Brandt’s experience and insight will surely be beneficial to our team in the months ahead.”

This will be Snedeker’s first appearance as a vice captain.

“I am so grateful to Keegan and the PGA of America for giving me the opportunity to represent my country in the role of vice captain,” Snedeker said. “The Ryder Cup is unlike anything in our sport, and I hope to bring the passion and pride to help Keegan deliver his vision of what a Ryder Cup in New York should look like. I am so excited to serve alongside my good friend Webb and know we will do everything in our power to help Keegan and the players be ready for a great competition next September at Bethpage Black.”

A native of Nashville, Tennessee, Snedeker has nine PGA Tour wins, with the biggest being the 2012 Tour Championship. He was the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year in 2007. Last week, Snedeker named the 2024 recipient of the PGA Tour’s Payne Stewart Award. The award is presented annually to a professional golfer who best exemplifies Stewart’s steadfast values of character, charity and sportsmanship.

Zach Johnson recalls the ‘joyous’ phone call offering Keegan Bradley the U.S. Ryder Cup captaincy

“It’s one of those phone calls, like, I’ve had a lot of phone calls, but I’m not going to forget this one.”

Zach Johnson’s heart was beating fast again.

“I was getting ready to deliver a bomb,” he said of news that would shock the golf world.

Less than one year ago, as U.S. Ryder Cup Captain, Johnson had to break the bad news to Keegan Bradley that Johnson was “going in a different direction” and Bradley wouldn’t be a member of the 12-man team to represent Team USA in Rome. Johnson didn’t use one of his captain’s picks on Bradley and chose Rickie Fowler and Justin Thomas, who finished below Bradley in points.

As Netflix’s “Full Swing 2” showed, Johnson took a deep breath before making his difficult call to Bradley and said, “I do not envy this part of the job.” (Interesting side note: Johnson said he has yet to watch Full Swing 2.)

This time, Johnson got to deliver the good news – the Ryder Cup Committee had selected Bradley to be the captain of the 2025 U.S. team.

“The last time I called you on the phone was one of the more difficult phone calls I’ve ever had,” Johnson recalled as his first words to Bradley on June 23.

“Keegan wasn’t the only one I had to call, you know, and Keegan, to no one’s surprise, specifically mine, was nothing but pure respect and class. I’ve been on that side of the call. It’s awful. It’s hard. But Keegan’s true character came out right there,” Johnson said. “But then I said, ‘I appreciate how you handled that phone call more than you know, because we’re friends.’ And he said, ‘Zach, you don’t have to say that, you know I’ve got your back.’ He’s being serious; he’s being genuine. I said, ‘Just know that this is one of the most honor-packed, joyous phone calls I could ever make.’”

His fondest memory of informing Bradley that the committee, which included Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas, had picked him for the role was the response of Bradley’s wife.

“I could hear Jillian in the background in a high-pitched voice go, ‘Whaaat?’” Johnson said.

Speaking at his press conference announcing his role, Bradley said he had just driven home with his family from the Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Connecticut, on June 23 when Johnson, and PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh and President John Lindert called.

Bradley shared that Waugh told him: “You know, your number was called, it’s time for you to step up.”

“When he told me that, I sort of, it sort of hit me, you know, that this is a heavy job and this is a group of people that trusted me in this, and it’s time to step up to the plate and be the captain of this team,” Bradley said.

At age 39 when the biennial matches are held at Bethpage Black in September 2025, Bradley will be the youngest captain since Arnold Palmer served as a playing captain at age 34 in 1963. Bradley, who is currently No. 21 in the world, had been a two-time winner on the Tour last season and finished 11th in the Ryder Cup points standings. Johnson said he brought up the possibility of Bradley doing double duty.

“One of the first things we talked about after we asked Keegan to be the captain was, and I was adamant, I said, ‘We believe that you can make his team like, fully, I believe that you can go out and make his team; You can be the first guy on the list,” Johnson said. “And we voiced that. But we also have the ability for personnel and people to surround him where that can be feasible.”

Johnson said his input was valued by the Ryder Cup Committee in the selection process but he tried to take a backseat until called upon.

“I’m on the committee, but I shut up. I really let Jordan and Justin because they’re, I’d say Ryder Cup contemporaries,” Johnson said. “And then some of the PGA executives. It’s their tournament. They have been nothing but gracious in allowing the players to have a voice. The discussion (about the captaincy) happened organically and that’s how it evolves.”

Johnson appreciated the PGA’s gesture to allow him to be the one to let Bradley know that the job of U.S. Ryder Cup Captain belonged to him for 2025.

“It’s one of those phone calls,” Johnson said, “like, I’ve had a lot of phone calls, but I’m not going to forget this one.”

Keegan Bradley wants Tiger Woods ‘as involved as he wants to be’ with 2025 United States Ryder Cup team

Bradley hopes to have Woods’ input as much as possible.

It’s been a surreal couple of weeks for Keegan Bradley.

Earlier this month, Bradley was named the United States captain for the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black from Sept. 26-28. However, he knew well before the official announcement and kept it tightly under wraps.

“I sat on the being the Ryder Cup captain for almost three weeks without anybody knowing and that was tough,” he told the media at this week’s 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minnesota.

“I wasn’t telling a soul. I was sort of dealing with the news myself as well. I was very — I didn’t know I was going to be the Ryder Cup captain, so I was dealing with that with my family, getting a plan together on how we’re going to do this. I really wanted to be the one to call Luke Donald and tell him, so I wanted to keep that quiet.

“It was nice to not have anybody know so I could sort of move under the radar making all these plans. But now, having it be out in the open has been helpful, too.”

3M Open: Thursday tee times, how to watch | Yardage book

Many around the game believed it was Tiger Woods’ turn to head Team USA, but due to several prior commitments, Big Cat withdrew his name from consideration, leading the PGA of America to Bradley.

However, Bradley hopes to have Woods’ input as much as possible.

“Yeah, I’ve told Tiger that I want him to be as involved as he wants to be,” he said. “We didn’t — with the British Open going on, we’re not really chatting too much about that. We both have a job to do, and I don’t want to bother Tiger with that. I think in the coming months — we’re still 14 months out here, so we’ve got a long time.”

The 38-year-old’s team is starting to come together, as he named Webb Simpson as his first vice captain on Tuesday.

Bradley’s made two previous starts at the 3M Open, finishing T-46 (2019) and T-39 (2021). Since a T-2 performance at the Charles Schwab Challenge, he’s failed to finish inside the top 30 over his last four starts, including a missed cut at the British Open.

Sahith Theegala of the United States plays his second shot on the 13th hole during day three of the Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club on July 13, 2024 in North Berwick, Scotland. (Photo by Luke Walker/Getty Images)

He’ll get an up-close look at two rising U.S. stars at TPC Twin Cities, as he’s paired with Nick Dunlap and Sahith Theegala for the first two rounds. Theegala currently holds the No. 11 spot in the Ryder Cup point standings. Dunlap, on the other hand, just collected his first pro win and second win of the season at the Barracuda Championship (he won the American Express as an amateur).

Both players may end up with a chance of making Bradley’s squad.

Keegan Bradley names Webb Simpson United States vice captain for 2025 Ryder Cup

Simpson will bring plenty of experience to the locker room.

Two weeks ago, 38-year-old Keegan Bradley was named the United States captain for the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, New York, scheduled for Sept. 26-28. On Tuesday, he made his first move towards putting together his team.

Bradley named Webb Simpson as a vice captain for the biennial bash, a choice that will bring plenty of experience to the U.S. locker room.

Simpson has represented Team USA six times, three of which were Ryder Cup appearances (2012, 2014 and 2018).

“Webb is someone who I have long admired and respected as a competitor and friend,” Bradley said in a statement. “He possesses a wealth of team golf experience and knows what it takes to win. Webb will be a valuable member of our leadership team and a trusted resource for me as we prepare for Bethpage Black next September.”

After compiling a 4-4-1 record in his Ryder Cup playing career, this is Simpson’s first time being appointed as a vice captain.

“I am honored to be chosen by Keegan to serve as a Vice Captain in 2025,” Simpson said. “Competing in three Ryder Cups will forever be among my career highlights. I have no doubt that Keegan will be a fantastic captain and a tremendous leader, and could not be more excited to get to work as we seek to reclaim the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black.”

Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau supportive of Keegan Bradley’s selection as U.S. Ryder Cup captain

“I was surprised at the pick, and I think it’s a great pick the more I think about it.”

Phil Mickelson has plenty of history at the Ryder Cup with Keegan Bradley. So it’s no surprise the first question he was asked Wednesday at his pre-tournament press conference ahead of 2024 LIV Golf Andalucia was about the new United States Ryder Cup captain.

“I was surprised at the pick, and I think it’s a great pick the more I think about it,” Lefty said. “He played a lot of golf at Bethpage when he went to St. John’s. His passion for the Ryder Cup is greater than just about any player I’ve ever seen. His love for the Ryder Cup is more than anybody I know. I think he’s going to lead with that type of passion.”

Mickelson and Bradley were 4–1 as teammates across two Ryder Cups, accounting for all of Bradley’s wins in the competition. They were also 2–1–1 at the 2013 Presidents Cup.

On Tuesday during his introductory press conference in New York City, Bradley spoke highly of Mickelson but said he hadn’t spoken with him since being selected. Bradley also noted he didn’t believe Mickelson would be interested in being one of his assistants.

Mickelson was not asked about that in Spain.

“I think he’s incredible,” Mickelson said. “I’m really, really happy for him. I think we all are really happy for him knowing how gut-wrenching it was to not be part of the team last year, but to now have the opportunity to lead and go forward I think is great.”

Bradley, as documented in the Netflix series “Full Swing,” was heartbroken when not selected for the U.S. team last year in Rome, which the Americans eventually lost 16½-11½. Bradley is well known for still not unpacking his suitcase from the 2014 Ryder Cup, a U.S. defeat at Glen Eagles in Scotland.

Mickelson wasn’t the only person in the golf world surprised by the pick. But that doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing, 2024 U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau said.

“I’m excited for him,” DeChambeau said Wednesday. “I think it’s a great opportunity for him, especially as it relates to younger players. He’s going to see that younger threshold, and obviously relate to them a lot more, I would say, because of his age. I mean, what is he, 38 or something like that?

“So yeah, he’s seeing the younger generation game. He’s out there still playing, and competing and it’s great to have some relate-ability. As far as picking the best players, that’s the right approach and I couldn’t be more happy for him as captain.”

Bradley said Tuesday his picks for the team would be the 12 best players, regardless of where they play. More than a year out, DeChambeau is second in the standings, trailing only Scottie Scheffler, but he was also left off the team last year, which featured Brooks Koepka as the only LIV Golf player competing in Italy.

Keegan Bradley on being named 2025 U.S. Ryder Cup captain: ‘I don’t think I’ll ever be more surprised with anything in my life’

Seth Waugh said to me, ‘Your number was called and it’s time for you to step up.’”

Keegan Bradley was as surprised as anyone that he had been chosen to be the U.S. captain for the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in New York.

“I don’t think I’ll ever be more surprised with anything in my life,” Bradley said on Tuesday during a press conference in Manhattan officially announcing his selection. “I was in complete shock. (PGA CEO) Seth Waugh said to me, ‘Your number was called and it’s time for you to step up.’ ”

Bradley, a six-time PGA Tour winner, including the 2011 PGA Championship, has played in two Ryder Cups – none since 2014 – and one Presidents Cup. He has never been an assistant captain or captain for either biennial competition. Bradley, who will be 39 at the time of next year’s Ryder Cup, will be the youngest Ryder Cup captain since 34-year-old Arnold Palmer was a playing captain in 1963. Bradley, who is ranked No. 19 in the Official World Golf Ranking and 37th in this season’s FedEx Cup standings, said he’d like to make the team as a player but would have to earn enough points to be an automatic qualifier.

Bradley’s selection is a departure from how the U.S. side has been picking its captain since the Ryder Cup Task Force was formed after its defeat in Scotland in 2014. Phil Mickelson often had talked about his desire to be the captain of the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black but forfeited that honor when he joined LIV Golf. Tiger Woods, who served as the winning captain of the 2019 Presidents Cup and was an eight-time Ryder Cup participant, was the frontrunner for the job but elected to pass on the position this time around.

“With my new responsibilities to the Tour and time commitments involved, I felt I would not be able to commit the time to Team USA and the players required as a captain,” Woods said in a statement. “It doesn’t mean I wouldn’t want to captain a team in the future. If, when I feel it is the right time, I will put my hat in the ring for this committee to decide.”

2023 Travelers Championship
Keegan Bradley celebrates with the trophy after winning the final round of the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands on June 25, 2023 in Cromwell, Connecticut. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

Bradley was left off the 2023 U.S. team that lost in Rome in September despite finishing 11th in the point standings and ahead of captain’s picks Rickie Fowler and Justin Thomas. The world witnessed his disappointment in the Netflix documentary “Full Swing,” when he received a phone call from then-captain Zach Johnson that he didn’t make the team.

“I was crushed,” Bradley said.

PGA President John Lindert said that the Ryder Cup selection committee held a phone call a little over two weeks ago and that Bradley was the unanimous choice for the job. He didn’t even have to interview for the post. Bradley was informed of his selection during a phone call as he was driving home from the Travelers Championship and Johnson delivered the good news this time.

Despite being a diehard New England Patriots and Boston Red Sox fan, Bradley has ties to New York having attended St. John’s University in Queens.

“My New Yorkers only care that you bleed red, white and blue and that you win,” said two-time Super Bowl winning QB Eli Manning, formerly of the New York Giants.

Bradley admitted that he often skipped classes on Monday in college when the course superintendent allowed the team to park near the maintenance area and play hole Nos. 3-14 at Bethpage Black when the course is closed. One day, during his senior year, Bradley slipped on to the famous stretch of 15-18 and it didn’t end well.

“The police were called,” he said.

Bradley, the son of a PGA professional, grew up in Vermont and was 13 when his father took him to the 1999 Ryder Cup in Brookline, Massachusetts, and watched from his father’s shoulders as Justin Leonard made a famous putt at the 17thgreen at The Country Club to help lead Team USA to the greatest comeback in Ryder Cup history. Bradley recalled running on the 18th green to join in the celebration.

“It changed my life,” he said.

Bradley made the U.S side in 2012 and was on the other end of blowing a 10-6 lead to the Europeans. Bradley promised that he wouldn’t open his Ryder Cup suitcase until his team won. He was a captain’s pick when the U.S. lost in 2014. More than a decade later, the bag remains shut.

“I hope to open it someday,” he said.

Bradley noted that he would choose the best 12 players regardless of whether they played on the PGA Tour or LIV, and that he would be looking to include some younger vice captains to help set up future choices for captains.

“I’ve only been the captain for two weeks,” Bradley said, “but I already find myself staring at the ceiling at 2 a.m. thinking about every situation.”

Is Tiger Woods going to captain the U.S. squad at the 2025 Ryder Cup? ‘We’re still talking about it’

Tiger as Ryder Cup captain at Bethpage Black?

Is Tiger Woods going to captain the 2025 United States Ryder Cup team? He sure seemed to hint things are heading in that direction.

Woods spoke with members of the media Tuesday ahead of the 2024 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, his first tournament appearance since withdrawing from the 2024 Genesis Invitational because of an illness. He was asked about myriad topics, from his pursuit of a 24th consecutive made cut, his body and Masters memories.

However, his answer to a question about the Ryder Cup makes it seem as if Woods will soon again be involved in the biennial competition between the U.S. and Europe, this time from a captaincy standpoint.

“We’re still talking about it,” Woods said while smiling when asked directly about his current position related to the captaincy.

Woods spent time as a vice captain in 2016, but his record in the Ryder Cup is one of the worst marks of his professional golf career. He’s 13-21-3 in the competition, including a 0-4 mark in his last appearance in 2018 at Le Golf National in Paris, site of the 2024 Olympic competition.

He is 4-2-2 in singles matches.

However, people have clamored since the 2023 Ryder Cup for Woods to be considered for captaincy at Bethpage Black in New York.

And it’s something he and PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh have discussed plenty in recent weeks. And according to Big Cat, there are more conversations to be had soon.

“It’s something that Seth and I are going to sit back and talk about it after this event,” Woods said. “I said I’m going to be busy for a couple weeks, so let me focus on getting through this week and hopefully getting another jacket, and then we can sit back and talk about it next week.”