Keegan Bradley named US Ryder Cup captain in surprise announcement

As we all predicted, the US Ryder Cup team will be captained by Bethpage Black, a beloved character who promises to inject vital energy into the Long Island faithful.

And just as none of us predicted, that captain will not be Tiger Woods.

After months of speculation over Woods' Ryder Cup selection, Keegan Bradley will replace him as captain of the US team at Bethpage, the US Ryder Cup committee said Monday, ending months of flirtation with the top golfer's top gig. The news is expected to be finalized with an announcement on NASDAQ in New York at noon on Tuesday.

Woods, a 15-time major champion and eight-time Ryder Cup contender, notes a surprising “no” to Bethpage. Woods was the clear favorite for the lead for months after the American's defeat in Rome, going so far as to comment on “conversations” with then PGA of America commissioner Seth Waugh.

“We're still talking about it,” he said with a smile at the Masters in April, a point Waugh repeated at the PGA Championship in May.

But Woods' plan revealed a problem for the captain: After accepting a senior role as Player Director on the PGA Tour's policy board last August, Woods had commitments regarding the Tour's complex merger agreement with the Saudi PIF that would deal with his Ryder Cup. the captaincy, which is a two-year position that starts in the months following the last cup. The PGA of America has been holding off on the captain's name for months in hopes of reaching an agreement between the two sides, with Woods to serve as captain, even naming former NBC sports analyst John Wood as “team manager” in hopes of adding some of the captain's duties. But as the calendar turned to July, no progress had been made, and Woods was forced to decline the captaincy, even though he could not compete in the team for the captaincy or vice-captaincy.

The captain drops Bradley, the latest source of Ryder Cup public heartache, to lead the US team at a crucial time for the Americans, an unexpected choice that could have a ripple effect downstream for the entire US side. Although Bradley, 38, is a proud New Englander, he has deep ties to Bethpage Black, having played college golf at St. Johns University in Queens is just a short drive away. The Johnnies host a tournament each year at Betpage, and Bradley has returned to the venue many times over his years on the PGA Tour.

“I am incredibly excited to accept this opportunity to captain the United States team at the 2025 Ryder Cup,” Bradley said in a statement. “My interest and appreciation for a major club golf event has never been stronger. The Ryder Cup is unlike any other tournament in our sport, and this one will undoubtedly be special especially given the rich history and passionate spectators at this amazing course. I am looking forward to starting preparations for 2025.”

The Americans are looking to bounce back from a painful loss in the '23 Cup in Rome, the Ryder Cup where Bradley famously was the last to exit after a difficult season. Fans criticized then-captain Zach Johnson's decision to leave Bradley out of the team as evidence that the American leadership was playing favorites in team building – a charge that, although not official, was only amplified after Europe's historic victory in Rome.

Bradley was so praised for his handling of the roster situation, he even invited Netflix cameras into his house to watch him cheer on the US side with his sons. An episode devoted to Bradley's Ryder Cup heartbreak revealed that he still has his 2012 “Miracle at Medinah” suitcase stuffed in his garage, which Bradley vowed not to open until he was part of the victorious American team.

Now he'll have a chance to do so in front of America's most raucous crowd in history at the “People's Country Club,” perhaps as playing captain.

James Colgan

Golf.com Editor

James Colgan is a news editor and features at GOLF, writing articles for websites and magazines. He manages Hot Mic, the GOLF media stand, and applies his camera knowledge to all product platforms. Before joining GOLF, James graduated from Syracuse University, at which time he was the recipient of a caddy (and atute looper) scholarship on Long Island, where he hails from. He can be reached at [email protected].