U.S. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley on playing at Bethpage, new unis
U.S. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley explains the emotions that go along with playing at Bethpage.
- Six spots on the team are filled, with Bradley selecting the remaining six.
- Bradley acknowledges the pressure of being the youngest Ryder Cup captain since 1963.
Donald Trump got it right this time.
The president endorsed Keegan Bradley as a playing captain for the U.S. Ryder Cup team, saying the Jupiter resident should be on the team that will face Europe at Bethpage Black in New York.
“Keegan Bradley should DEFINITELY be on the American Ryder Cup Team — As Captain!!! He is an AMAZING guy. It will be a great Ryder Cup,” Trump posted on his social media site.
Trump, who also announced he would be attending the first day of the event that runs Sept. 26-28, has an insatiable passion for golf as a player, fan and owner of world-class courses. But the Palm Beach resident did misjudge his ability to unite the game, mistakenly believing he could bring together the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. After two meetings in February at the White House between officials from both sides, they were farther apart than ever, and remain that way.
But his take on Bradley is spot on. With six spots on the team secured and Bradley ready to announce the final six Aug. 27, the Jupiter resident should be one of those captain’s picks.
His pick.
Here is the one question that needs to be answered: Is Keegan Bradley one of the 12 best American golfers?
The answer is: Yes.
Keegan Bradley finishes 10th in Ryder Cup standings
Bradley finished 10th in the Ryder Cup standings, which ended Aug. 17 following the BMW Championship. He is 11th in the world ranking, the eighth-rated American.
Bradley said choosing the final six spots on the team is a “heavy decision,” and acknowledged he wants it over. The role as the youngest U.S. Ryder Cup captain (39) since Arnold Palmer in 1963 (34) has been physically and mentally grueling on Bradley.
Which would validate his decision even more.
After admitting he was “dead tired” upon arrival for the Tour Championship at East Lake and saying he “never felt like that on the golf course before,” an exhausted Bradley managed to tie for seventh with 64-63 in the second and third rounds.
And in a year in which he played with the distraction and pressure of his Ryder Cup captaincy duty, Bradley had one of his best seasons with one win (Travelers Championship), six top 10s and 11 times in the top 25.
If ever an event will be packed with distractions and pressure, it will be this year’s Ryder Cup, which is expected to be as rowdy and vocal and energetic as anything we have seen on a golf course.
“Pretty strange thing to pick yourself,” Bradley said. “It’s something that I’ve been thinking about for a long time, and I just want to make sure we make the right (decision).”
Scottie Scheffler, J.J. Spaun, Jupiter’s Xander Schauffele, Russell Henley, Harris English and LIV’s Bryson DeChambeau have secured a spot on the team as the top six in the Ryder Cup standings.
Now it’s up to Bradley to selected the other six.
“It’s just a heavy decision,” Bradley said. “All the picks are tough. Captain is going to be judged on who they pick.”
Tom D’Angelo is a senior sports columnist and reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at tdangelo@pbpost.com.
