Keegan Bradley, after assuming the leadership of the American team in the Ryder Cup, shared his reflections on the experience, marked by the defeat in the tournament.
A Challenge with Ups and Downs
Bradley, who accepted the captaincy, was aware of the magnitude of the challenge. “You win and it’s glory for a lifetime. You lose and it’s something I’ll have to live with for the rest of my life,” Bradley commented in his first public statements after the competition. The American team, led by Bradley, faced Europe in Long Island, New York. Despite being the favorites, they found themselves in an unfavorable situation from the start, arriving on the last day with a considerable disadvantage. Bradley admitted that the situation was emotionally tough. “You put so much into it, and you have all this planning, and the first two days went as badly as we could have imagined. It was quite emotional. It was sad, to be honest,” he expressed.
Bradley has taken responsibility for some decisions, including field preparation, which, combined with the rain, facilitated the game on a notoriously difficult field. Bradley has acknowledged that the period after the Ryder Cup has been one of the most difficult of his life. Despite the experience, Bradley also highlighted the positive aspects of his role. He mentioned the support received from American fans during the circuit stops, something that, according to him, few players have experienced. Bradley concluded that, although there were times when he regretted not being included in the team as a player, he knows he made the right decision.You win and it’s glory for a lifetime. You lose and it’s ‘I’ll have to live with this for the rest of my life.’ I don’t think I’ll ever get over this. This event has been so brutal for me. It’s such a strange thing to love something so much that it gives you nothing.
Keegan Bradley, captain of the U.S. Ryder Cup team.
