Keegan Bradley has been confirmed as the next U.S. Ryder Cup captain, ensuring his place on the team once again. The PGA of America announced his selection on Monday after extensive discussions with Tiger Woods, who was initially considered for the role.
The PGA of America made the announcement on Instagram after news started to circulate throughout the day. Bradley, who has competed in two Ryder Cup events and has never served as an assistant captain, will lead the 2025 matches at Bethpage Black in New York.
Bradley, currently in New York for media training, will be officially introduced at a news conference scheduled for noon on Tuesday at the NASDAQ building. At 38 years old, he will be the youngest American captain since Arnold Palmer served as a playing captain in 1963 at East Lake.
According to Sports Illustrated, Bradley was the first reported choice for the captaincy.
Initially, Tiger Woods was the top choice of the Ryder Cup committee and had been in negotiations for several months regarding the responsibilities of the position and his availability.
However, due to his limited playing schedule and commitments as vice chairman of the PGA Tour Enterprises board, which is engaged in discussions with investors from LIV Golf, Woods ultimately declined.
Woods previously served as a playing captain during the 2019 Presidents Cup and as an assistant captain at the 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine.
“I’m dedicating so much time to what we’re doing with the PGA Tour. I don’t want
to fulfill the captaincy role if I can’t do it,” Woods stated in May during the PGA Championship.
With Woods out of consideration, the PGA of America opted for Bradley, who brings a local connection as a New England native and former college golfer at St. John’s University.
“Keegan’s prior Ryder Cup experience, strong relationships, and enduring enthusiasm for this event will be incredibly valuable as he leads the U.S. team over the next year-and-a-half,” stated PGA of America President John Lindert.
“We believe that under Keegan’s leadership, the 2025 U.S. Ryder Cup team will approach Bethpage with the same confidence and determination that has characterized his career.”
Bradley has won six PGA Tour events, including the 2011 PGA Championship. He secured two victories last season and hoped this would secure him a spot on another Ryder Cup team.
He was disappointed when U.S. captain Zach Johnson did not select him with his four captain’s picks, opting instead for Rickie Fowler, Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth, and Brooks Koepka.
Typically, Ryder Cup captains are players just past their peak, often in their mid-40s. Since players gained more say in selecting captains after the 2014 matches, the trend has been for future captains to serve first as assistants at the Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup.
Traditionally, the immediate past captain—Johnson in this case—would serve as an assistant at the next Ryder Cup. Given the unconventional choice of Bradley, it remains unclear if this tradition will continue.
Bradley’s last Ryder Cup appearance was in 2014 at Gleneagles in Scotland, where he was benched by Tom Watson alongside Phil Mickelson in both Saturday sessions, leading to another European victory.
He made his Ryder Cup debut at Medinah in 2012, teaming with Mickelson to go 3-0 before losing to Rory McIlroy in singles, contributing to a European comeback and victory, the largest by a visiting team.
After the 2012 matches, Bradley famously kept his bag packed and vowed not to unpack it until he was on a winning team. Now, he may have the opportunity to do just that. “In a press statement, Bradley expressed his strong passion and deep appreciation for golf’s premier team event, the Ryder Cup.
“The Ryder Cup is truly unique in our sport, and hosting it at such an iconic venue with its rich history and enthusiastic fans will make the upcoming edition especially memorable. I’m eager to start preparing for 2025.”
This marks the latest appointment of a U.S. captain in over three decades, and the process was unexpectedly prolonged and complex.
Phil Mickelson was the natural choice for this Ryder Cup ever since Bethpage Black was announced as the venue in 2013. He enjoys significant popularity in New York, having been a runner-up twice in U.S. Opens held at Bethpage Black.
However, Mickelson’s involvement with LIV Golf and the Saudi league in 2022 led to tensions with several PGA Tour players due to his advocacy for the rival league. Subsequently, the role was offered to Tiger Woods, but after extensive discussions, that option didn’t materialize.
Luke Donald had just 14 months to prepare for the 2023 matches near Rome when he was selected to lead Europe after Henrik Stenson’s departure to LIV Golf cost him the captaincy. Europe won convincingly, prompting Donald’s reappointment to lead Europe once more at Bethpage Black.
