Keegan Bradley, after assuming the leadership of the American Ryder Cup team, shared his reflections on the experience, highlighting the emotional intensity and the challenge it represented.
The Weight of the Ryder Cup
Bradley, who accepted the role of captain fully aware of the high expectations, expressed the duality of victory and defeat. “You win, it’s glory for a lifetime. You lose, it’s ‘I’m going to have to live with this for the rest of my life’,” he commented, revealing the difficulty of overcoming the defeat suffered in the tournament. The American team, despite being the favorite at home, found themselves in an unfavorable situation from the start, arriving at the last day with a considerable disadvantage. Bradley described the experience as emotionally intense and sad.
The image shows Keegan Bradley.
Despite the defeat, the American team managed to score points in Sunday’s individual matches, although it was not enough to change the final result. Bradley took some responsibility for certain errors, including the field setup, which, along with the rain, made the course more manageable for the opposing team. Others questioned the decisions about the pairings and the choice not to include himself in the team. The golfer admitted that the period after the Ryder Cup has been one of the most difficult of his life. At 39 years old, Bradley reflected on the possibility of playing another Ryder Cup, although he acknowledged that age could be a factor. Despite the difficult moments, Bradley highlighted the uniqueness of his experience as a captain and high-level player.“You win, it’s glory for a lifetime. You lose, it’s ‘I’m going to have to live with this for the rest of my life. There’s no part of me that thinks I’ll ever get over this… This event has been so brutal for me… It’s so strange to love something so much that it gives you nothing”.
Keegan Bradley, captain of the US Ryder Cup team
Although there were times when he regretted not being included in the team as a player, Bradley stated that he made the right decision. Despite the challenges, Bradley valued the support of the American fans.
The golfer expressed that his experience as a captain gave him a unique perspective in the world of golf.