Keegan Bradley had been there earlier than. Final yr, it was Zach Johnson, captain for the USA within the 2023 Ryder Cup, on the telephone letting Bradley know he didn’t make the staff and wouldn’t play in Rome. This yr, it was the PGA of America informing Bradley he would take Johnson’s spot main the U.S. at Bethpage Black in 2025.
The opposite distinction between the calls? Bradley had no thought this one was coming.
“I did not have one dialog with anyone about this till I used to be instructed I used to be the captain,” Bradley defined Tuesday whereas sharing his utter shock throughout an introductory press convention. “I received a name from Seth [Waugh, PGA of America CEO] and John [Lindert, PGA of America president] and Zach, and I had hassle speaking.
“After they referred to as me, I felt humorous after the decision as a result of I do not suppose I reacted in the way in which they have been anticipating me to. I used to be in full shock. It was heavy. I used to be just a little bit uncomfortable with a number of the guys — my idols — that have been appeared over for this place. I wanted a second to determine that out. I do not suppose I am going to ever have a much bigger shock in my life.”
A kind of idols was Tiger Woods, who turned down the captaincy as a result of he didn’t really feel like he might commit sufficient time to do the job nicely sufficient to guide the People to victory. Woods is embroiled in negotiations between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Funding Fund as these two entities try to work out the framework settlement they presently have in place to reunify the golf world.
Bradley mentioned he spoke with Woods earlier than he accepted the function as captain with Tiger encouraging and supporting him taking the function. Bradley added that he was nearly embarrassed by the caliber of candidates handed over for him to be chosen.
“One thing Seth mentioned to me was, ‘Your quantity was referred to as; it is time so that you can step up,'” Bradley shared. “When he instructed me that, it type of hit me that it is a heavy job, and it is a group of individuals entrusting me on this. It is time to step as much as the plate and be the captain of this staff.”
Bradley appreciated that the decision got here from Johnson, the person who snubbed him a yr in the past in favor of Justin Thomas, Rickie Fowler and Sam Burns — all captain’s picks ranked decrease than Bradley. Johnson is on a committee together with different PGA executives in addition to gamers like Thomas and Jordan Spieth, who helped make the choice.
‘The telephone rang and it was Seth Waugh,” Bradley mentioned. “I answered it and he had some fairly unimaginable information that I had no clue was coming. Zach Johnson is the one who instructed me that I used to be going to be the Ryder Cup captain in 2025.Â
“I believe it simply speaks to what sort of man and particular person Zach Johnson is. I’ve simply such respect for him. He was considered one of my idols that I appeared as much as after I first got here out on the Tour, and I really feel horrible for what he is needed to undergo, and I am so honored that he was the one who referred to as me. I will signify this choice to one of the best of my skills and I am actually excited.”
When requested why the PGA picked Bradley forward of different presumed candidates like Stewart Cink and Steve Stricker, Lindert mentioned Bradley ticked lots of containers.
“When Keegan’s identify was talked about, it was a slam dunk. … We had a listing. We have been form of bouncing via the listing, and we have been all trying down the listing. Keegan’s identify form of jumped out. As quickly because it was talked about, ‘Keegan Bradley,’ it was, ‘Yeah, completely, 100%.'”