Keegan Bradley Reflects on the Ryder Cup: “A Brutal Event”
Keegan Bradley, after accepting the Ryder Cup captaincy, shares his feelings about the tournament. In his first public statements since the event at Bethpage Black last month, Bradley expressed the intensity of the experience.
“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.”
Keegan Bradley
Bradley, who competed in two previous editions of the Ryder Cup, was named captain of the United States team last year. Despite having an all-star team, the Americans faced Europe in Long Island, New York.
The American team found themselves in an unfavorable situation from the start, with a significant deficit before the final day. Bradley admitted that the situation was emotional and sad.The Americans managed to score points in Sunday’s singles matches, but the emotional impact was undeniable.
Bradley has taken responsibility for certain decisions and mistakes, including the course design which, combined with the rain, facilitated play on a course known for its difficulty. Others have questioned his pairings and the decision not to include himself in the team.
The defending champion of the Travelers Championship described the period after the Ryder Cup as one of the most difficult moments of his life.
Bradley, 39, expressed his desire to play in a Ryder Cup again, although he acknowledges the difficulty.
Despite the experience, Bradley has managed to maintain a high level of play on the PGA Tour, even after being named captain, he won the 2024 BMW Championship and achieved individual victories that positioned him among the best American players.
Although there were times when he regretted not having been the first playing-captain since Arnold Palmer in 1963, Bradley claims to be convinced that he made the right decision.
Bradley reflected on the unique experience of being Ryder Cup captain and competing at the highest level, highlighting the support received from American fans.
