The PGA of America has reportedly chosen its captain to steer Crew USA on the Ryder Cup subsequent fall at Bethpage Black.
It’s a somewhat outside-the-box choice. Keegan Bradley—the person Zach Johnson snubbed a 12 months in the past—will reportedly captain the American facet at Bethpage Black, per Bob Harig of Sports activities Illustrated.
Bradley has competed within the Ryder Cup twice, experiencing defeat on each events. In his Ryder Cup debut, he witnessed the Europeans storm again on Sunday to win the competitors at Medinah in 2012. Then, two years later, Crew Europe defeated the Individuals at Gleneagles in Scotland, 16.5-to-11.5, as Phil Mickelson famously disparaged Crew USA chief Tom Watson within the aftermath.
However now Bradley, who has suffered gut-punch after gut-punch all through his Ryder Cup profession—with none extra vital than final 12 months—may have a possibility for the final word redemption story. He’ll lead the American facet at Bethpage Black, lower than 25 miles from the place he performed collegiate golf at St. John’s College. He additionally loves this competitors greater than anything in golf, a testomony to his patriotism, drive, and adoration for team-match play.
“I take into consideration the Ryder Cup each second I’m awake, mainly,” Bradley mentioned forward of final 12 months’s BMW Championship, a number of weeks earlier than Johnson ignored him for the likes of Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, and Sam Burns.
Bradley received twice throughout the 2022-23 season, together with on the Vacationers Championship, the Signature Occasion in his native New England. He completed eleventh within the closing Crew USA Ryder Cup standings, finalized after the 2023 Tour Championship.
“I’m tremendous bummed out,” Bradley mentioned after he didn’t make the workforce.
“I assumed I put collectively a extremely good 12 months with two wins, together with [one] in Hartford over an elite subject. I’m pleased with what I’ve finished… I’ve all the time been an outsider within the sport, however I’ve tried to get nearer to the fellows I assumed could be on the workforce. I really feel like transferring ahead, I’m going to should routinely qualify for the Ryder Cup. [That said,] I’m [still] pulling for the U.S. Crew.”
Bradley won’t should qualify for subsequent 12 months’s biennial competitors at Bethpage Black. As an alternative, he would be the gatekeeper, the person who will in the end determine which gamers make the workforce.
Different potential candidates included Stewart Cink and Fred {Couples}, however the PGA of America has determined to go in a distinct route, one which Shakespeare would marvel at if Bradley will help information the Individuals to victory.
However not dissimilar to how Shakespearean tales have shocked readers for hundreds of years, golf followers have voiced their astonishment amid Harig’s report about Bradley:
He goes from lower to captain? Kinda prefer it, want him to deliver all hitters
— Wabes (@__wabes) July 8, 2024
After all, many golf followers displayed their exceptional humorousness, with some even speaking about Spieth and Thomas:
Going to snigger my ass off when Speith and Thomas are left at residence.
— The Golfpro (@the_golfpro) July 8, 2024
Others additionally permitted of the choice:
Keegan Bradley’s coronary heart was ripped out when ZJ mentioned he wouldn’t be on the 2023 workforce.
Within the warmth of the second, he dealt with the information with grace, class, and maturity. His dedication to supporting his nation is exceptional, and that’s why he’ll make one hell of a captain. #RyderCup
— Mitch Bach (@MitchBach) July 8, 2024
He’s really received balls and desires to compete. Guys prior to now, like Zach Johnson, love the title and enjoyable of it. That’s not how the Europeans method it and it isn’t how the U.S. ought to.
I’d love if it’s Keegan Bradley. Give this workforce some fireplace.
— thomas steez (@notorioussteez) July 8, 2024
That makes numerous sense. Perhaps one of the best use for Keegan Bradley. I dare say golfers would unite in believing that having that man on the wall in your workforce helps you sleep at night time. Very robust Payne Stewart vibes. And I’ve lengthy believed his loss has helped cripple our RC groups
— Tom Stoner (@tstoner4) July 8, 2024
Different followers referenced Bradley’s Ryder Cup bag from Medinah, which has remained closed and sealed because the 2012 Ryder Cup.
That is my suitcase from 2012 Ryder Cup that I haven’t opened since that Sunday. I promised myself I wouldn’t open it until I received a Ryder Cup.
That week modified my potential on golf endlessly. The Ryder Cup all of a sudden grew to become essential to me. pic.twitter.com/RFN6mqeiWH— Keegan Bradley (@Keegan_Bradley) August 30, 2023
So, some followers referenced these superstitions:
Does this imply he is allowed to open that Ryder Cup bag now?
(I form of like this; no person’s going to take it extra severely than Keegan.) https://t.co/pyRVWU9Qx9
— Chris Parish (@cparish.bsky.social) (@TheChrisParish) July 8, 2024
If Keegan Bradley doesn’t deliver the suitcase to the NYSE tomorrow morning and unzip it on nationwide TV then what are we even doing right here
— PJ Clark (@TheRealPJClark) July 8, 2024
After which there may be one fan who asks a wonderfully cheap query, particularly contemplating Bradley’s New England roots:
A Boston Crimson Sox fan goes to captain the workforce in New York? Are you kidding me?
— Brian Gardner (@Brian_F_Gardner) July 8, 2024
At any charge, no person noticed this determination coming. Regardless, Bradley will put his coronary heart and soul into main the U.S. Crew, which he dearly loves and admires.
Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Enjoying Via. Make sure to try @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You possibly can comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko as properly.
