Keegan Bradley and the Ryder Cup Team: Intense Preparations in Napa
Napa, California – The atmosphere at the Silverado Resort North Course was different. Keegan Bradley, captain of the U.S. Ryder Cup team, was in the middle of the fairway of the eighth hole, wearing the full team uniform and a wide smile. Calm and camaraderie reigned, a marked contrast to the usual pressure of golf tournaments.
“He has a better chance of going in the hole than ending up in that back right bunker,” Bradley joked when he saw Scottie Scheffler’s shot.
Keegan Bradley
With the PGA Tour season concluded, attention turns to Bethpage, host of the Ryder Cup. Bradley, along with the twelve players he will lead, seeks victory. This week, a PGA Tour event in Napa Valley transformed into a key meeting point for the American team.
The presence of ten of the twelve team members at the tournament is a significant change from 2023. Bryson DeChambeau, although not competing, attended a dinner organized by Bradley and the vice-captains. Xander Schauffele, absent due to the birth of his first child, was the other absence.
Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele expressed their desire to participate in this event from the beginning of the year. The intention is clear: to stay in competitive shape. “To stay in shape, you can practice and do everything you can at home, but there’s something different about playing a competition,” commented Scheffler.Keegan Bradley y Scottie Scheffler conversan con el caddie de Scheffler, Ted Scott, durante una ronda de práctica en el Procore Championship.Practice at Silverado was intense. Justin Thomas used a level to measure the slope, while Russell Henley was doing his own putting drills. Nearby, Ted Scott, Scheffler’s caddie, was preparing the balls for his player’s practice.
In the practice area, Harris English was working on his wedge game, and Collin Morikawa was practicing with his driver, monitored by a Trackman and two cameras. Webb Simpson, assistant captain, joined them. The structure of the practice rounds and tournament schedules suggest possible pairings.
English and Morikawa played the practice round together and were paired for the first two rounds of the event. Patrick Cantlay, Sam Burns, Cam Young, and Justin Thomas formed another foursome, while Scheffler practiced with Henley and Spaun. Spaun, a Ryder Cup rookie, highlighted the importance of camaraderie.
Bradley seeks to refine the pairings and prepare them for the game format. “One of our goals was for the guys to be prepared, ready to know who they are playing with, especially in alternate shot,” Bradley stated.
Morikawa highlighted Bradley’s openness to listen to the players and facilitate their performance during Ryder Cup week. The relaxed atmosphere of Napa, contrasting with the intensity of Bethpage, has been key to this preparation. The environment is “lighter”, according to Bradley, a crucial factor before the competition in Long Island.
The team enjoyed moments of camaraderie, such as waiting to eat hot dogs, an event designed to strengthen bonds. “This is the most different thing I’ve been to at a golf event,” Woodland commented. “We’re hanging out with the guys, talking, really preparing for two weeks, right? So it’s been fun.”
Bradley has selected younger assistants, like Woodland, to be closer to the players. “I spoke with the guys and they told me: ‘This is different’,” said Woodland. “They have no problem picking up the phone and calling me. I know them on a personal level, which I think brings us all closer”. Keegan Bradley observa a Justin Thomas durante una ronda de práctica en el Procore Championship.Bradley, aware of the expectation, has adopted a different approach, seeking a change in the team’s dynamics. “They chose me to do this job, to do it a little differently,” said Bradley. “I remind myself and the vice-captains all the time that they chose us to do this job because they wanted a little change in what we were doing.”
These changes include organizing the week, preparing in advance, a group chat, and greater personal openness. Woodland highlights the change in Bradley: “I’ve known him for 15 years. We’ve been together a long time. I’ve never seen him like this. He’s opened up a lot. You can tell how much it means to him.”
Although success in the Ryder Cup doesn’t depend solely on a week in Napa, the American team is focused and united. Bradley hopes this week will be crucial, not only for preparation, but for future competitions. “Who knows,” Bradley said. “In the future, this could be part of something we do every year.”
