Keegan Bradley has been defying the odds all his life.
“I think we all agree that me being the captain was definitely a shock to everybody,” said Bradley, who was named U.S. Ryder Cup captain in July 2024, becoming the youngest U.S. captain at age 39 since Arnold Palmer was at the helm at age 34 in 1963. Bradley is the youngest captain of either team since England’s Tony Jacklin in 1983.
He’s proven time and again that it’s a mistake to underestimate him. Bradley was barely recruited in college, attending St. John’s University, not one of the college golf powerhouses. But he made it to the PGA Tour in 2011 and became only the third player at the time to win a major on his first attempt when he claimed the PGA Championship as a rookie. Bradley won for the eighth time on the PGA Tour this season and achieved a career-best ranking of seventh in the Official World Golf Ranking in June.
He elected not to select himself as the first playing captain since Palmer. But Bradley, who still hasn’t opened his suitcase from the U.S. team’s loss in 2012, is a man on a mission to lead his 12-man squad to win the Cup back on home soil.
“No one ever thought I could be out here, so I always kind of had to have a mentality like us against them, or they don’t think I can do this. So I’ve always sort of had that mentality,” Bradley said. “I’ll carry it over to my captaincy as well.”
Captain Bradley is ready to report for duty and thanks to his relationship as a Rolex Testimonee, he participated in this lengthy and wide-ranging Ryder Cup Q&A.
Q: What does it mean to you to lead Team USA at such a young age — and on home soil?
KB: I am so honored and so proud to have been named the captain, especially for a U.S. Team playing in New York. The course has so much meaning for me personally. Bethpage Black is where I played my college golf, while at St. John’s. I see it as America’s home course. It is a truly public course, played by regular guys. I can’t say enough about it as a venue, and to be the captain there, will see things come full circle, from a career standpoint.
Q: How are you preparing differently than past captains to make your mark on this team?
KB: I am not looking to compare myself to previous captains. I just want to do what I believe is right, to create a winning culture not just for this team, but for teams in the future. I don’t believe in making my mark, I do believe in doing whatever I can to help this team win.
Q: What lessons from your own Ryder Cup playing experience are shaping your approach as captain?
KB: I have played on two Ryder Cup teams (2012 and 2014), I had some of the best and some of the worst experiences in my golf career. To lose both of those cups, definitely leaves a feeling of unfinished business. My approach is going to be very simple and uncomplicated to these matches.
Q: How has becoming Ryder Cup captain changed your outlook on competition and responsibility?
KB: Since being named Ryder Cup captain, I look at competition so differently. I have gone on record saying that in the early part of my career, I was somewhat of a ‘loner.’ I kept myself to myself, seeing everyone around me as competition. Now, I pay attention to how prospective team members are playing and find myself rooting for the guys. This is certainly very different for me!
Q: What leadership traits are most important to you, especially when dealing with a high-stakes team event like this?
KB: I think being a calm leader is important. Leading from within, setting an example and inspiring guys to play their best.
Q: Who have been your biggest influences in terms of leadership, inside or outside of golf?
KB: There are so many role models for me, in terms of leadership in sport. It is well documented that Michael Jordan is a close friend of mine. I am lucky to be able to bounce ideas off someone like that. I also think Bill Belichick and Mike Krzyzewski are phenomenal at what they do.
Q: How do you plan to build camaraderie in a team of elite individual competitors?
KB: Coach K is a great example of how to do this, and I have spoken to him a couple of times. It is very rare that a group like this comes together in such a short space of time. The only comparison you can make, would be the U.S. Olympic basketball team. And I lean heavily on Coach K’s advice.
Q: The U.S. team faced a tough loss in 2023. What are you doing differently this time to inspire a comeback?
KB: I am not looking to compare myself to previous captains. 2023 was undoubtedly a difficult loss, I want our 12 players to feel the importance of coming together, competing for each other and having each other’s backs, in what will be a very tough environment to play, for both teams.
Q: What are your expectations of the home crowd, and how do you hope to use that energy strategically?
KB: The energy will be crazy. It is important not to let it over-energize you. The New York crowd will be loud, we all know that, but they will also let the U.S. Team know, if they are not delivering! The fans will be fully behind the U.S. Team and we need to make sure we embrace it and give them a reason to cheer and get excited!
Q: What makes the Ryder Cup such a unique emotional and competitive test, even for seasoned pros?
KB: Team competitions are so rare in our sport and The Ryder Cup has such a rich history. Everyone that plays, plays with pride and the weight of a continent on their shoulders. Just to be on a winning team and to honor the players that have gone before you is something that everyone strives for.
Q: As someone who wears their heart on their sleeve, how do you balance emotion with strategy in high-pressure environments like the Ryder Cup?
KB: You want to make sure that displays of emotion don’t exhaust you, but emotion is what make this event so special. It shows that you care. What is amazing about the Ryder Cup, is that every hole is like playing the final hole of a major tournament, and it’s encouraged to let those emotions out and not bottle them up.
Q: What message would you like to share with fans ahead of the 2025 edition?
KB: Be passionate; we are playing for you.
Q: What does the Ryder Cup mean to you — personally and professionally?
KB: The Ryder Cup means everything to me, both personally and professionally. I am extremely proud and humbled to have been selected as U.S. Ryder Cup team captain. I want to repay the PGA of America’s faith in me by bringing the cup home!
Q: In one word, how would you describe the Ryder Cup?
KB: Legacy.
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