Tag: Keegan Bradley

Jordan Spieth and these marquee names headline 2024 Wyndham Championship field at final FedEx Cup regular-season event

The most important number at the Wyndham is 70 – that’s how many players will advance into the first of the three playoffs events.

As the final tournament of the FedEx Cup regular season, the Wyndham Championship usually attracts a handful of big names looking for one last chance to salvage a season or secure a playoff run that will pave the way for future glory. The tournament landed none bigger to sign up for a week in Greensboro, North Carolina, this year than three-time major champ Jordan Spieth, who at No. 63 in the season-long FedEx Cup standings has work to do if he plans to make a deep playoff run and also needs to improve his world rank, which has dipped to No. 37. Spieth lost a playoff to Patrick Reed at tournament host Sedgefield Country Club in 2013.

Spieth may need to write for sponsor invites to play in some of his favorite events next season such as the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am if he doesn’t work his way into the top 50 and qualify for the second leg of the playoffs at the BMW Championship, which secures a berth in the signature events after next week’s playoff event in Memphis.

Spieth isn’t the only marquee name who signed up for the humidity and southern hospitality that this pocket of the Tarheel State is famous for – at least this time of year for the humidity.

Sungjae Im, who is ninth in the FedEx Cup, and Shane Lowry at 10th, are both looking to protect their status in the Comcast Business Top 10, which pays a hefty bonus to the top 10 in the season-long points race after the Wyndham Championship. Akshay Bhatia, who grew up just down the road in Wake Forest, North Carolina, is ranked 15th in the FedEx Cup, and Scot Robert MacIntyre at No. 17, still could sneak in and possibly bounce them — or someone else who decided to rest up for the playoffs — out.

Last year’s British Open champ Brian Harman, ranked 15th in the world and U.S Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley, No. 21 in the world, Wake Forest University grad Cameron Young, 24th in the world, as well as Billy Horschel, No. 33, in the world, are prominent figures who aren’t stressing about their playoff position but still angling to improve their chances of finishing in the top 30 and a spot in the Tour Championship at East Lake.

Finishing in the top 50 has never been a bigger deal and that has the likes of another Wake product, Will Zalatoris, No. 45 in the FedEx Cup, Harris English, No. 48, Austin Eckroat, No. 49, Nick Taylor, No. 50, Patrick Rodgers No. 51, and Justin Rose, who catapulted to No. 52 with his runner-up finish at the British Open a few weeks ago, all trying to scoot in or hang on for dear life to a spot in the top 50 – which will be determined next week in Memphis. But playing well at the Wyndham could go a long way to helping their chances and making the St. Jude (relatively) stress-free.

The most important number at the Wyndham is 70 – that’s how many players will advance into the first of the three playoffs events. Emiliano Grillo, who is representing Argentina in the Olympics this week, is No. 68, and France’s Olympian Victor Perez, No. 71, are coming all the way from Paris to battle the top-70 bubble. Brendon Todd is the current “Bubble Boy” at No. 70.

Lucas Glover lines up a putt on the first green during the final round of the John Deere Classic golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Cress-USA TODAY Sports

Lucas Glover, who is No. 76 in the FedEx Cup, is in much better shape than he was last year heading into the Wyndham Championship — he was No. 112 — before he won the title to back-door his way into the playoffs, but he’s still got work to do if he’s going to have a shot to defend the following week at the FedEx St. Jude Championship. Matt Kuchar, who is the only player to qualify for all 17 editions of the playoffs, is coming off a T-3 at the 3M Open but still has a lot of ground to make up if he’s going to keep that streak alive. He enters the Wyndham Championship at 113th in the FedEx Cup standings. As the saying goes, you’ve got to be in it to win it.

There are others who not only have playoffs to consider but also Presidents Cup hopes. The biennial event between the U.S. and the International Team will be held in late September and the window for qualifying on points or to make a good impression for a captain’s pick is winding down. No matter who you are in the field of 156 at the Donald Ross-designed Sedgefield CC, there’s something to play for at the 35th and final regular season Tour stop.

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 named U.S. assistant captain for 2024 Presidents Cup

“Keegan is a tremendous competitor with a bulldog mentality.”

U.S. Presidents Cup Captain Jim Furyk made the obvious official, announcing Keegan Bradley as his fourth captain’s assistant for the 2024 Presidents Cup.

Bradley, recently named the 2025 United States Ryder Cup Captain, joins Stewart Cink, Justin Leonard and Kevin Kisner as fellow assistants when the Presidents Cup returns to The Royal Montreal Golf Club in Montreal, Canada, Sept. 24-29.

Speaking on SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio on Friday, Furyk eluded that this announcement was imminent. “Maybe I’ve already had conversations with Keegan,” he said with a laugh. “I definitely…maybe want to offer that up to him.”

“Keegan is a tremendous competitor with a bulldog mentality and we are looking forward to having his voice in the team room in Montreal,” said Furyk in a statement on Wednesday. “He has a strong passion for match play competition and I know he will be an asset to our players in 2024, as well as 2025, as he leads them into Bethpage Black for the 2025 Ryder Cup.”

Bradley, 38, represented the U.S. team in the 2013 Presidents Cup at Murifield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, compiling a 2-2-1 record. The Vermont native also played for the United States in the 2012 and 2014 Ryder Cups, where he amassed a combined 4-3-0 record.

Keegan Bradley on the final day of the U.S.’ 2013 Presidents Cup win at Muirfield Village.

Bradley owns six career wins on the PGA Tour, with his most recent victory coming at the 2023 Travelers Championship. He won his first major championship at the 2011 PGA Championship, where he defeated Jason Dufner in a playoff at Atlanta Athletic Club.

Ever since the U.S. lost the 2014 Ryder Cup in Scotland and reacted by creating a task force to try to reverse America’s losing record, the next Ryder Cup captain has served a stint as an assistant captain for the U.S. Presidents Cup.

“I was ecstatic to get the call from Jim and looking forward to doing all I can to help our team in Montreal,” said Bradley. “With the Ryder Cup on the horizon next year, this will be a great experience for me to understand the other side of the team room and how that camaraderie and coaching helps our guys play their best.”

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.”

Rory McIlroy said European Ryder Cup team was in ‘disbelief’ when told about Keegan Bradley’s captaincy

“I think Keegan was probably in disbelief, at some point, too, but certainly an interesting pick.”

Many wondered what Rory McIlroy’s game would look like after taking three weeks off following his disappointment at the U.S. Open where he played his final four holes 3 over to lose to Bryson DeChambeau by a shot.

He put those questions to bed Thursday morning.

This week’s defending champion posted an opening-round 5-under 65 at the Genesis Scottish Open and was tied for third after the morning wave.

McIlroy’s day began on The Renaissance Club’s 10th hole, where he made a birdie on the par 5. Although he gave it right back on the 11th, McIlroy added birdies on Nos. 14 and 16 to go out with a 1-under 34.

Scottish Open: Leaderboard | Photos

After making the turn, the Northern Irishman got it going.

He hit his approach into the first — his 10th — to less than four feet and converted for birdie. After a par on No. 2, McIlroy chipped in from off the third green for an eagle to get to 4 under on the day.

He added his fifth circle to the card on No. 4 and would finish his day with five pars — McIlroy missed birdie putts of six feet, eight feet and 11 feet on Nos. 5, 6 and 9, respectively — to solidify his 5-under effort.

“My game has been feeling pretty good in practice over the last ten or so days since I picked the club back up,” he told the media Thursday afternoon. “Obviously, the last time I played, I played well. I didn’t get the result I wanted but I’ve still got a lot of confidence in my game.

“I went time-out there today, shot a solid score. A couple I would have liked to hole coming in and be a few shots lower but overall great start to the tournament. Yeah, I sort of picked up where I left off.”

On Tuesday, Keegan Bradley was announced as the United States Ryder Cup captain for the 2025 games at Bethpage Black in New York. It was a surprise for many around the game, including Bradley himself, and McIlroy was asked about the response from his European teammates.

“I think a surprise for everyone,” he said. “We had dinner in London on Sunday night with (European Ryder Cup captain) Luke (Donald), and he told us then. Yeah, it’s an interesting appointment. The youngest captain since Arnold Palmer, I think was a playing captain at 34. But he knows Bethpage very well. He went to university in the area. He’s obviously very passionate about the Ryder Cup.

“Yeah, I mean, it’s certainly a departure from what the U.S. have done over the last few years, and you know, time will tell if that’s a good thing or not.”

As for the mood in the room?

“I think disbelief, probably. I think Keegan was probably in disbelief, at some point, too, but certainly an interesting pick.”

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.

Lynch: Keegan Bradley is a good choice as Ryder Cup captain. His team will determine if he’s good for the U.S. — or for Europe

His appointment takes a sledgehammer to the task force buddy culture that has hogtied Team USA.

Leadership is a fraught topic these days, decades of partisan bullshitting masquerading as truth-telling having created a seemingly unbridgeable divide in which any prospective commander is either an inspirational visionary ready to save the nation or manifestly destitute of the qualities necessary for the role. The prevalence of instant, binary reviews might eventually make Keegan Bradley wish he’d opted for the simpler life of running for president instead of accepting a gig as America’s Ryder Cup captain.

Management is complicated, no matter how many uplifting Hallmark aphorisms are peddled by LinkedIn influencers. Studies suggest that only a third of workers feel engaged by their business leaders, less than 20 percent trust them, and more than half quit because of that relationship. Which means Bradley’s new job would be plenty challenging even if he didn’t have to ascertain whether his team is willing to be led at all, or if his appointment is seen as usurping their collective power.

Recent U.S. Ryder Cup skippers have been more transactional than transformational. The task force created after Tom Watson’s bruising tenure in 2014 accomplished two goals: it relieved PGA of America executives of responsibility for selecting a captain while still keeping checks coming to the right address, and it delegated control of the team to a core group of players who were then recycled biennially through the captaincy and vice-captaincies. Noble chaps all, but a perception took root that the room where it happens didn’t seat many folks.

The captains chosen since ’14 fit the mold that cast generations of their predecessors — men well stricken in years who are either on or nearing the Champions Tour glue factory in terms of their competitive relevance. More recently, captains have also been made men in the task-force mafia. Bradley is 38 years old, ranked in the world’s top 20, and assuredly not part of the coffee klatch that denied him a captain’s pick last year, despite a playing record better than any of the half-dozen who were chosen to suit up in Rome. Of the rationales that will be offered in support of Bradley — passion, college-era proximity to the venue at Bethpage Black, generational change — none is more welcome than this: his appointment takes a sledgehammer to the task force buddy culture that has hogtied Team USA for 10 years, during which captains began to sound like concierges and act like the job was to just keep players comfortable.

USA’s Keegan Bradley celebrates after winning their foursomes match on the 15th hole at the Ryder Cup on Friday, Sept. 28, 2012, at the Medinah Country Club in Medinah, Ill.

We can’t say if Bradley will be a good leader since he has no applicable résumé to judge. He hasn’t ever been a vice captain nor has he voiced a vision, mainly because he wasn’t asked to. The first conversation he had with the PGA of America about the captaincy was when he was called and told it was his — a fact that will be cited as a dereliction by PGA officials if his time in the role goes poorly. Nor can we assume he’ll struggle, but the trait most often cited in his defense — passionate patriotism — isn’t enough. Just ask Lanny Wadkins or Tom Lehman or Curtis Strange or Hal Sutton or Corey Pavin or Davis Love III or Jim Furyk or Zach Johnson.

Captains are ultimately judged on something they can’t entirely control: how their team performs. It’s an unforgiving metric for a man to live by when he doesn’t hit a shot. In Bradley’s case, the crucial unknown is how quickly players will buy in to his leadership. He’s been open about not enjoying close relationships with the core members of the U.S. team, which might explain why those on the ’23 Ryder Cup squad didn’t exactly stampede to social media with their congratulations when the selection was announced. If players embrace his captaincy, and they almost certainly will, then Bradley could be a great choice for the U.S. If they don’t, then he’s a great pick for Europe. And we might not have to wait until Sept. 28, 2025, to find out which is the case.

For too long, the U.S. Ryder Cup team room has functioned as an echo chamber of comforting blather, and not in the manner of locker rooms in real team sports, where whining, undermining conduct, petulance and apathy are mercilessly rooted out by coaches or managers. The Ryder Cup captaincy can’t be crowdsourced for the purposes of making every player feel heard, seen, included and comfortable, but that’s seemed to be the prized objective since the task force went to work. As Mark Twain said, “It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.”

Whatever happens on Long Island 14 months hence, Bradley’s tenure will make the job easier for those who follow him. For that reason alone, he can already be chalked up as a winning skipper.

After getting ‘throttled’ in Rome, Xander Schauffele called Keegan Bradley’s appointment as 2025 U.S. Ryder Cup captain ‘surprising’

Like many others, Schauffele expected Tiger Woods at the helm.

Throttled.

That’s the word Xander Schauffele used to describe the beatdown the United States Ryder Cup team suffered at the hands of the Europeans last fall.

“Thinking back to the Ryder Cup, I remember getting throttled, that’s about it,” Schauffele said Tuesday ahead of the 2024 Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club, the final event before the 152nd Open at Royal Troon. “The atmosphere — if I try and think of the positives from the week. The atmosphere, our team locker room, those are the things that were really fun. Just being sort of arm-in-arm with my teammates was awesome all week. Then the fans were awesome with their chants as always.

“So from a golf standpoint, getting throttled is never fun but it is what it is and wore it on the chin there.”

Rome was just another loss for Team USA on foreign soil — its last victory came in 1993 — and it quickly became apparent that change was needed.

And, boy oh boy, did the PGA of America deliver.

On Monday, 38-year-old Keegan Bradley was announced as the 2025 U.S. captain for the biennial bash at Bethpage Black from Sept. 26-28. Bradley, who was arguably the biggest snub from the 2023 squad, has represented the U.S. on two occasions, both losing efforts in 2012 and 2014.

Scottish Open: Picks to win | Tournament hub | Photos

“Yeah, it’s surprising,” Schauffele said of Bradley’s appointment. “You typically expect someone that’s a little bit older to get selected as a captain. I think a lot of people were banking on Tiger to do it.”

Woods took his hat out of the ring this time around due to several time-consuming commitments.

“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.

Despite the PGA of America’s curveball, Schauffele expects good things from world No. 19.

“Keegan expressed his love for the Ryder Cup publicly, which we all saw, and I’m sure — I haven’t talked to him or seen him yet, but I’m sure he’s over the moon and is going to do a great job,” he said.

Keegan Bradley of the United States and Xander Schauffele of the United States shake hands on the 18th green during the second round of the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands on June 23, 2023 in Cromwell, Connecticut. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Schauffele, the 2022 Scottish Open winner, made his Ryder Cup debut in 2021 at Whistling Straits, a 19-9 slaughtering of the Europeans. He’s currently third in the point standings for the U.S., trailing only Scottie Scheffler and Bryson DeChambeau.

The laid-back Schauffele expects Bradley to bring a bit of fire to the squad next year, something that seemed to be missing last go-around.

“He is so laid back off the course,” he said. “If you get him in like a dinner setting or something, he loves sports. He’ll talk about sports all night long if you like. He’s very passionate individual.

“On the course, he’s intense. That’s just how he competes and how he is. I’m sure as a captain he’s going to have sort of a mixed bag. He won’t be afraid and will get everyone going. I don’t know if he’s coached or captained any other teams in his life, whether it’s his kids’ teams or something like that, but when someone is really passionate about something, they usually do really well.”

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.”