Keegan Bradley named U.S. Ryder Cup captain in shock announcement

Simply as all of us predicted, the U.S. Ryder Cup workforce might be captained at Bethpage Black by a beloved character who guarantees to inject some severe vitality into the Lengthy Island devoted.

And simply as exactly none of us predicted, that captain will not be Tiger Woods.

After months of hypothesis surrounding Woods’ candidacy for the Ryder Cup slot, Keegan Bradley will as a substitute captain the U.S. facet at Bethpage, the U.S. Ryder Cup committee mentioned on Monday, ending a multi-month flirtation with the lead gig from golf’s preeminent famous person. The information is anticipated to be finalized with an announcement on the NASDAQ in New York at midday on Tuesday.

Woods, a 15-time main champ and eight-time Ryder Cup competitor, marks a shock “no” for Bethpage. Woods had been the open favourite for the lead place for months after the American beatdown in Rome, even going so far as to remark about “discussions” with then-PGA of America commissioner Seth Waugh.

“We’re nonetheless speaking about it,” he mentioned with a smile on the Masters in April, some extent that Waugh reiterated on the PGA Championship in Might.

However Woods’ schedule posed an existential difficulty for the captaincy: After accepting an elevated position as a Participant Director on the PGA Tour’s coverage board final August, Woods had obligations surrounding an advanced merger settlement with the Tour and Saudi PIF that may preempt his Ryder Cup captaincy work, which is often a two-year place starting within the months following the earlier cup. The PGA of America held out naming a captain for months within the hopes that an settlement between the 2 events can be reached, clearing the runway for Woods to function captain, even naming former caddie and NBC Sports activities analyst John Wooden as “workforce supervisor” within the hopes of supplementing among the captain’s workload. However because the calendar flipped to July, no such progress had been made, and Woods was compelled to show down the captaincy, although he may nonetheless theoretically compete on the workforce by way of captain’s choice or vice-captaincy.

The captaincy thrusts Bradley, a latest supply of very public Ryder Cup heartache, into the lead position for the U.S. facet in a pivotal second for the People, a shock alternative that would have downstream reverberations all through the U.S. facet. Although Bradley, 38, is a proud New Englander, he has deep ties at Bethpage Black, having performed his faculty golf at St. Johns College in Queens only a quick drive away. The Johnnies hosted a event annually at Bethpage, and Bradley has returned to the realm typically in his years on the PGA Tour.

“I’m extremely honored to simply accept this chance to Captain america Crew on the 2025 Ryder Cup,” Bradley mentioned in a launch. “My ardour and appreciation for golf’s best workforce occasion have by no means been stronger. The Ryder Cup is not like another competitors in our sport, and this version will undoubtedly be significantly particular given the wealthy historical past and enthusiastic spectators at this iconic course. I sit up for starting preparations for 2025.”

The People wish to bounce again from a devastating loss on the ’23 Cup in Rome, a Ryder Cup the place Bradley was famously the final man out after a profession season. Followers criticized then-captain Zach Johnson’s choice to go away Bradley off the workforce as proof of U.S. management taking part in favorites in its workforce building — a cost that, whereas not unlawful, was solely amplified within the wake of a historic European victory in Rome.

Bradley was largely lauded for his dealing with of the roster state of affairs, and even invited Netflix cameras into his dwelling to observe him cheer on the U.S. facet along with his sons. An episode devoted to Bradley’s Ryder Cup heartbreak confirmed that he nonetheless has his suitcase from the 2012 “Miracle at Medinah” packed in his storage, which Bradley swears he is not going to open till he has been a part of a victorious American facet.

Now he can have the possibility to take action in entrance of a traditionally rowdy American crowd on the “Folks’s Nation Membership,” even perhaps as a playing-captain.

James Colgan

Golf.com Editor

James Colgan is a information and options editor at GOLF, writing tales for the web site and journal. He manages the Scorching Mic, GOLF’s media vertical, and makes use of his on-camera expertise throughout the model’s platforms. Previous to becoming a member of GOLF, James graduated from Syracuse College, throughout which era he was a caddie scholarship recipient (and astute looper) on Lengthy Island, the place he’s from. He may be reached at james.colgan@golf.com.