Keegan Bradley: Why I left myself off the Ryder Cup team
Last updated:
The biggest storyline in golf has finally been settled. Despite the hype, the speculation, and the historic opportunity, US Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley has not picked himself to play in this year’s matches. But why?
For months, the Ryder Cup conversation has revolved around one question: would Keegan Bradley name himself as a playing captain? It would have been a history-making move – there hasn’t been a playing captain since Arnold Palmer in 1963, when the Ryder Cup was nothing like the showpiece event it is now – and Bradley even negotiated with European captain Luke Donald to change the rules to allow it.
But now we know the answer. Bradley has chosen to remain on the sidelines as captain only at Bethpage Black, ending one of the most talked-about “will he, won’t he?” sagas in Ryder Cup history.
Why Keegan Bradley chose not to pick himself as a player for the Ryder Cup
Bradley named his six picks but his own name was conspicuous by its absence.
“The decision was made a while ago that I wasn’t playing,” he explained. “This was a tough decision.”
Bradley, who was controversially not picked for the 2023 Ryder Cup, admitted it was a tough pill to swallow.
“I grew up wanting to play Ryder Cups and wanting to fight alongside these guys,” he said. “It broke my heart not to play, it really did. I was chosen to do a job and be a captain for this team and my ultimate goal was to be the best captain I could be. This is how I felt I could do this.
“If it got to the point where it felt the team was better with me on it, I was going to do that. I know 100% for certain this was the right choice.
“This was a really tough decision. There was a point this year where I was playing.
“These six guys played so incredibly coming down the stretch here and made my job so much easier.
“It was an extremely difficult decision but one I’m really happy with. I’m happy with these six players. I’m glad it’s over.”
“I’m 100 percent certain this is the right choice,” Bradley said. “I want to be the best captain I can be.”
Bradley also responded to comments Rory McIlroy made earlier this month, where the European star insisted, “I don’t think you can do it” in regards to the prospect of Bradley being player-captain.
“I am not worried about what they do or say,” said Bradley.
“I’m not sure how he would know if it is not possible, as nobody has ever done it. I said through this process, I wish I could call Arnold Palmer and get his advice.
“The simple fact is it’s a different animal now to the 60s. They can make comments on what I can or cannot do. No one would have known.
“I was confident that if I did need to play, I had incredible vice captains to lean on. This was the decision I thought was best.”
-
Keegan Bradley is the Team USA captain for the 2025 Ryder Cup.
-
Keegan Bradley will be the Ryder Cup captain – but not a player.
