Image courtesy RyderCupUSA/X.
By Rahul Banerji
LIV golfers Bryson DeChambeau and Phil Mickelson have welcomed Keegan Bradley’s appointment as US captain for the 2025 Ryder Cup at New York’s Bethpage Black.
Speaking ahead of LIV Golf Andalucia at Sotogrande, Spain, on Wednesday, DeChambeau noted Bradley’s post-appointment comment that he would want the best 12 Americans on the course, regardless of where they were playing.
Said DeChambeau, the 2024 US Open champion, “As far as picking the best players, that’s the right approach and I couldn’t be more happy for him as captain.
“I think it’s a great opportunity for him, especially as it relates to younger players.
“He’s going to see that younger threshold, and obviously relate to them a lot more, I would say, because of his age. … He’s seeing the younger generation’s game.
“Keegan’s out there still playing and competing and it’s great to have some relatability.”
Bradley was left out of Zach Johnson’s 2023 team despite being in contention as a captain’s pick while DeChambeau did not make the grade as well despite being part of the 2019 and 2021 squads.
Bradley will be the youngest American captain since Arnold Palmer led the team as a 34-year-old in 1963 as a playing member.
Happy surprise
Mickelson, who played the Ryder Cup alongside Bradley in 2012 and 2014, said he was surprised but pleased for his former playing partner.
“I think it’s a great pick the more I think about it,” Mickelson said Wednesday. “He played a lot of (university) golf at Bethpage when he went to St. Johns.
“His passion for the Ryder Cup is greater than just about any player I’ve ever seen. His love for the Ryder Cup is more than anybody I know. I think he’s going to lead with that type of passion.
“I think he’s incredible. I’m really, really happy for him.”
Mickelson and Bradley were partners in five matches and returned a 4-1-0 record. Bradley, in fact, never won a Ryder Cup match in which Mickelson was not his partner, livgolf.com said.
Bradley, 38, was named captain on Monday by the USGA after hot favourite Tiger Woods dropped out of contention citing other commitments.
Last year, Bradley was snubbed as a Ryder Cup captain’s pick by Zach Johnson, a huge disappointment for a player who admittedly “bleeds red, white and blue.”
Mickelson was glad that Bradley would now be in a position to make key decisions.
“I think we all are really happy for him knowing how gut-wrenching it was to not be part of the team last year,” said the HyFlyers captain.
“To now have the opportunity to lead and go forward I think is great.”
Also read: Keegan Bradley is a shock pick as 2025 US Ryder Cup captain
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