Keegan Bradley, after his experience as Ryder Cup captain, shared his reflections on the tournament and the impact it had on his career.
The Weight of the Ryder Cup
Bradley, who took on the captaincy with high expectations, acknowledged the magnitude of the challenge. “You win, and it’s glory for a lifetime. You lose, and you have to live with that for the rest of your life,” commented Bradley, expressing the emotional intensity of the event.
There’s no part of me that thinks I’ll ever get over this.
Keegan Bradley
Leading the United States team on home soil, Bradley faced a tough defeat against Europe. The American team found themselves in a deep deficit from the start, which marked a milestone in the history of the Ryder Cup.
Bradley admitted the experience was emotionally draining. “You put so much into it, and you have all this planning, and the first two days were as bad as we could have imagined. It was quite emotional. To be honest, it was sad,” he stated.The captain of the United States Ryder Cup team, Keegan Bradley.
Bradley has taken responsibility for some decisions, including the field setup, which, combined with the rain, made the field more manageable for the Europeans. Others have questioned his pairings and the decision not to include himself in the team.
Bradley revealed that the period after the Ryder Cup has been one of the most difficult of his life. Despite the challenges, he expressed his desire to play in the competition again, although he acknowledges that age could be a limiting factor.
Despite the bitterness of the defeat, Bradley has managed to maintain a high level of play on the PGA Tour. After being named captain, he won the 2024 BMW Championship, and his victory in Hartford gave him more individual wins in that period than any other American, except Scottie Scheffler.
Although there were times when he regretted not having been included in the team as a player, Bradley stated that he made the right decision.
Despite the bittersweet experience, Bradley values the support received from American fans during his captaincy.
Bradley concluded by reflecting on the uniqueness of his experience. “I was able to experience something in golf that I don’t think anyone has experienced: being Ryder Cup captain and also competing at a very high level, winning tournaments and competing in them. And it was truly incredible.”
