Keegan Bradley is slowly getting used to the patriotic chants of “U-S-A! U-S-A!” that follow him around the course since he was named captain of the U.S. Ryder Cup.
The real surprise, however, is the patriotic reception and displays of gratitude for his service that he receives each week at gas stations, restaurants, and almost every time the 38-year-old player from Vermont goes out in public.
People buy me dinners, desserts, and drinks. I didn’t expect that. It’s been a bonus.
Bradley
Bradley heard all this over the weekend at the Philadelphia Cricket Club, from fans chanting “Cap! Cap!” to the standard calls of “U-S-A!”. His fan club would grow a bit in the Northeast anyway, where Bradley, the 2011 PGA champion, also made a name for himself as a standout golfer from 2006 to 2010 at St. John’s. Bradley posted photos on social media in March with a “C” on a St. John’s number 25 jersey and even took his young son to Rhode Island for the NCAA tournament. The Red Storm lost to Arkansas in Providence, but Bradley’s boys had a lot of fun.
After more than 20 years without much to cheer for. So having a team that was legitimate, not just good on the sly, this is like, wow, this team is really good. That was the first time for me.
Bradley
So is directing the show for Team USA.
Bradley, who has only played on two Ryder Cup teams and was never an assistant captain, was chosen last July after Tiger Woods was unable to accept the role to lead the 2025 matches at Bethpage Black in New York.
He hosted a dinner for potential Ryder Cup team members — yes, even LIV players — on Tuesday at Whitemarsh Valley Country Club with most of the PGA’s top players in town for the Truist Championship. While there had been informal gatherings over the past 10 months, Keegan had his first organized meeting with players, caddies and wives to really start discussing the Ryder Cup.
We’ve been talking to the guys for over a year. It was fun to get everyone under one roof. We called it a dinner, but it was really a kind of reunion.
Bradley
You will be given six captain’s picks to complete your 12-man team.
Bradley last played in the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in Scotland in 2014, when Tom Watson benched him and Phil Mickelson for both Saturday sessions in another European victory. Bradley made his Ryder Cup debut at Medinah in 2012, teaming with Mickelson to go 3-0 before losing to Rory McIlroy in singles in what proved to be a European victory, the biggest comeback by a visiting team.
Bradley has seven PGA Tour victories, the latest at the 2024 BMW Championship. At 38, he will be the youngest U.S. captain since Arnold Palmer was player-captain in 1963 at East Lake.
Bradley was hoping to serve as player-captain, but noted: “I need to play better than I am right now.”
He made a 23-foot birdie putt on the 6th hole and a 31-foot birdie putt on the 3rd hole to finish Saturday with a 68 under par. He was at 6 under par 234 and out of the true contention heading into Sunday’s final round at the Wissahickon Course.
I grew up in fields that looked like this. I didn’t get to play on fields this nice. But big fields, rough all over. I really wanted to play this style of golf.
Bradley
While most players praised the course, McIlroy noted that it was “probably 500 or 600 yards too short”, Bradley mostly enjoyed his rounds at the Cricket Club.
He really enjoyed playing golf in the northeast.
Bradley is excited that, according to PGA and Pennsylvania standards, there will be an increase in tournaments in the state over the next five years. The 2026 PGA Championship will be held at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square and the 2030 US Open at Merion Golf Club.
He has a special fondness for Aronimink. Bradley edged Justin Rose with a par on the first playoff hole to win the BMW Championship at the course in 2018 for what was his first PGA Tour victory in six years.
I think if you talk to all the players on the PGA Tour, top to bottom, we wish we could play more in the Northeast. We get a gift like this every couple of years, which is great.
Bradley
It’s even better when Bradley boasts of a home advantage.
Rosie and I weren’t enjoying it too much.
Shane Lowry
Like a true American captain, Bradley made his proposal for more golf in the suburbs of Philadelphia.
I feel that, for the United States, this is the most classic thing you can get, fields like this.
Bradley
