Keegan Bradley recently brought clarity to speculation surrounding his potential role as a playing captain for the 2025 Ryder Cup in a controversial call that pits Paige Spiranac up against Phil Mickelson.
On Wednesday, August 27, Bradley made his declaration that he would not be serving as a playing captain and listed six different picks for Team USA as they prepare to take on Europe.
The announcement prompted varied reactions from the golf world, including the blonde influencer and the iconic ex-pro, famed for his rivalry with Tiger Woods, as while some applauded Bradley‘s leadership, others expressed disappointment at his absence from the playing roster.
“Back-to-back Ryder Cups where Keegan should have been playing,” Spiranac wrote via X.com, formerly Twitter. “In my opinion.
“I understand why he picked the team first, but I wish he hadn’t been given the captaincy this year, so he had the opportunity to play. He had many years in the future to be a captain.”
Bradley, who last competed in the Ryder Cup in 2014 and narrowly missed selection in 2023, had anticipated 2025 as a potential return as a player. Instead, the captaincy placed him under immense pressure to assemble the strongest possible squad.
As captain, he selected Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Ben Griffin, Cameron Young, Patrick Cantlay, and Sam Burns as his six picks and whilst Spiranac isn’t a fan, he did get the thumbs up from Phil.
“Keegan did a great job today and was as classy as the king. He’s leading by example and is showing why he’s a great choice to lead this team,” Mickelson, who won six majors and the Ryder Cup three times, said.
Bradley’s decision denied him the chance to become the first playing captain since Arnold Palmer, but his focus remained on maximizing the team’s prospects rather than pursuing personal milestones and Justin Thomas reinforced the sentiment.
“It’s going to be said so many times between now and the end of the Ryder Cup that Keegan did,” Thomas said. “And will continue to do, whatever he feels is best for the team.
“That’s what he did. He wants to do whatever’s best for the team.”
When is the 2025 Ryder Cup and where can I watch it?
The 2025 Ryder Cup will take place from Friday, September 27, to Sunday, September 29, at Bethpage Black Golf Course in Farmingdale, New York.
The prestigious team competition features the best golfers from the United States and Europe, with three days of match play including foursomes, four-ball, and singles matches.
For viewers in the United States, coverage will be available on NBC and the streaming platform Peacock, which will broadcast all sessions live. Tee times are scheduled throughout the day, with prime matchups in the afternoon sessions.
Fans can also follow live updates and highlights on the Ryder Cup official website and affiliated social media channels.
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