The PGA of America has reportedly selected a captain to lead the U.S. team at the Ryder Cup next fall at Bethpage Black.
This is a pretty unconventional choice. Keegan Bradley was ignored by Zach Johnson a year ago. Reportedly, Captain According to Bob Harig, the American representative for Bethpage Black: Sports Illustrated.
Bradley has played in two Ryder Cups and lost both times: In his first Ryder Cup appearance in 2012, he watched Europe storm back to win at Medina on Sunday, then two years later, Europe beat the Americans 16.5-11.5 at Gleneagles in Scotland, after which Phil Mickelson famously berated Team USA leader Tom Watson.
But for Bradley, who has endured hardship after hardship throughout his Ryder Cup career, never hit as hard as he did last year, now comes the chance to tell the ultimate redemption story. He’ll lead the U.S. team at Bethpage Black, less than 25 miles from where he played his collegiate golf at St. John’s University. He also loves the game more than anything else in golf, a testament to his patriotism, drive and love of team match play.
“Basically every waking second I’m thinking about the Ryder Cup,” Bradley said before last year’s BMW Championship, a few weeks before Johnson selected Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas and Sam Burns to take Bradley’s place.
Bradley won two tournaments during the 2022-23 season, including the Travelers Championship, the signature event in his native New England. He finished 11th in the final Team USA Ryder Cup standings, which were finalized after the 2023 Tour Championship.
“I’m very disappointed” after not being selected for the national team, Bradley said.
“I thought it was a really good year, with the two wins. [one] I won in Hartford against some elite players. I’m proud of my accomplishments. I’ve always been an outsider in the sport, but I’ve worked my way up to be closer to the players I thought would be on the team. Going forward, I feel like I should automatically qualify for the Ryder Cup. [That said,] I [still] I’m rooting for the American team.”
Bradley won’t have to play in next year’s biennial tournament at Bethpage Black. Instead, he’ll be the gatekeeper, the person who ultimately decides which players make the team.
Other contenders included Stewart Cink and Fred Couples, but the PGA of America decided to go in a different direction. Shakespeare would be amazed if Bradley could lead the United States to victory.
But just as Shakespeare’s stories have shocked readers for centuries, golf fans have expressed consternation at Harig’s reporting on Bradley.
Cut to captain? Kinda nice, we need him to bring in all the batsmen.
— Waves (@__wabes) July 8, 2024
Of course, many golf fans showed their great sense of humor, some of whom took to talking about Spieth and Thomas.
I’d be laughing out loud if Spieth and Thomas were left at home.
— Golf Pro (@the_golfpro) July 8, 2024
Some supported the decision.
Keegan Bradley’s heart seemed to be torn apart when ZJ said he wouldn’t be on the team in 2023.
He went with the flow and handled the news with grace, class and maturity. His commitment to supporting his country is incredible and that’s what makes him a great captain. #RyderCup
— Mitch Bach (@MitchBach) July 8, 2024
“He’s really gutsy and he wants to compete. The guys of the past, like Zach Johnson, loved the titles and the fun of it. The European guys don’t have that approach and the U.S. shouldn’t either.”
Keegan Bradley would be awesome, give this team some momentum.
— Thomas Steez (@notorioussteez) July 8, 2024
It makes a lot of sense. It may be the best use of Keegan Bradley. Any golfer would believe they could sleep better at night with a player like him in their team’s walls. I have a strong Payne Stewart vibe. I have long believed that his absence weakened the RC team.
— Tom Stoner (@tstoner4) July 8, 2024
Other fans pointed to Bradley’s Ryder Cup bag at Gleneagles, which has remained closed since the 2014 Ryder Cup. Bradley has said he won’t open it until he’s part of another Ryder Cup-winning team.
Does this mean he will be allowed to open the Ryder Cup bag?
(I quite like this one. No one takes it as seriously as Keegan.) https://t.co/pyRVWU9Qx9
— Chris Parish (@cparish.bsky.social) (@TheChrisParish) July 8, 2024
If Keegan Bradley doesn’t bring a suitcase to the New York Stock Exchange tomorrow morning and unpack it on national television, what the hell are we doing?
— PJ Clark (@TheRealPJClark) July 8, 2024
And one fan has a totally legitimate question, considering Bradley’s New England background.
A Boston Red Sox fan captaining a team in New York? Are you kidding me?
— Brian Gardner (@Brian_F_Gardner) July 8, 2024
Either way, it’s a decision no one expected, and either way, Bradley will be fully committed to leading the U.S. team he loves and respects so dearly.
Jack Mirko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation Playing Through. Follow For more golf articles, follow us on Twitter Jack Mirko In the same way.
