LIV Golf to Make a Comeback in the U.S.
LIV Golf, an innovative league that’s rapidly gaining traction worldwide, is set to return to the United States. It seems intent on demonstrating that golf is a game for everyone.
In a dramatic turn of events, Keegan Bradley has emerged as a strong contender for America’s captain in this year’s Ryder Cup, following an impressive performance on Sunday. The atmosphere at TPC River Highlands was electric, especially on hole 18, where birdies were essential to clinch the final event of the PGA Tour season.
Bradley’s rise to this opportunity was somewhat unexpected—especially since Fleetwood had a three-shot lead going into the final day. Despite being ranked among the top 20 golfers globally, Bradley had his struggles, registering two overs along the way, hinting at a challenging start for his first PGA Tour win.
Remarkably, he managed to get to 1 under at the 18th tees, a feat helped by a remarkable 64-foot putt on hole 15, leveling him with Fleetwood at a striking 14 under for the tournament.
His drive from the 18th set him up perfectly for a 138-yard approach shot, which opened up his chances for victory. And indeed, he executed this brilliantly, landing within six feet of the cup, all while the crowd watched intently.
As Fleetwood stumbled with a bogey on hole 16, this created an opening for Bradley. He notably made a three-putt save to secure a par, forcing a playoff moment. With Fleetwood missing a crucial putt, Bradley stepped up and drilled his winning shot, prompting ecstatic cheers from the crowd.
“Of all the shots and all the putts I’ve hit, I think I remember this one the most,” he shared in an interview post-victory.
Celebrating with his son Cooper added a personal touch to the win, solidifying a memorable moment after clinching the Travelers Championship trophy.
On the other hand, Fleetwood was understandably disappointed, especially considering his strong performance overall, yet lacking a win—marking the longest stretch of top 10 finishes on the PGA Tour without a victory in nearly four decades. “I’m angry… it hurts,” he expressed after the event.
With the Ryder Cup approaching, this rivalry between Bradley and Fleetwood holds additional significance. The event is slated to take place at Bethpage Black, and while Bradley serves as captain for Team USA, Fleetwood is aiming for the European team.
This victory pushed Bradley into the worldwide golf rankings and positioned him solidly among the top contenders for Europe’s Ryder Cup slots. Notably, it’s possible that he could self-select for the Ryder Cup as the team captain’s choice for this year. If so, it would mark his first play-captain position since Arnold Palmer in 1963; the last Team USA captain was Tiger Woods during the 2019 President’s Cup.
