Bradley to captain USA at 2025 Ryder Cup
Keegan Bradley was named captain of the United States' 2025 Ryder Cup team on Monday.
"I am proud and excited to name Keegan Bradley as captain of the 2025 United States Ryder Cup team," PGA of America president John Lindert said. "Keegan's past Ryder Cup experience, strong relationships, and unwavering passion for this event will prove invaluable as he guides the U.S. team over the next year and a half.
"We are confident that with Keegan at the helm, the 2025 U.S. Ryder Cup team will compete at Bethpage with the same confidence and determination that has defined his career."
At a press conference Tuesday, Bradley said he didn't interview for the position. USA's 2023 captain, Zach Johnson, called Bradley to tell him the position is his, according to Sports Illustrated's Bob Harig.
The United States pivoted to Bradley after Tiger Woods turned down the opportunity, Harig notes. Woods was player-captain for the U.S. at its 2019 Presidents Cup win and has been an assistant for the country twice.
"With my new responsibilities to the TOUR and time commitments involved, I felt like I would not be able to commit the time to Team USA and the players required as a captain," Woods said in a statement. "That does not mean I wouldn’t want to captain a team in the future. If and when I feel it is the right time, I will put my hat in the ring for this committee to decide."
Bradley has represented the U.S. three times between the Ryder and Presidents Cup, most recently in 2014. He wasn't chosen as a captain's pick for last year's Ryder Cup in Italy despite a strong PGA TOUR season and expressed his disappointment about the omission.
"My passion and appreciation for golf's greatest team event have never been stronger," Bradley said. "The Ryder Cup is unlike any other competition in our sport, and this edition will undoubtedly be particularly special given the rich history and enthusiastic spectators at this iconic course. I look forward to beginning preparations for 2025.”
Bradley said his captaincy hasn't shut the door on him wanting to play.
"I want to make this team. I feel like I'm in the prime of my career and I can make this team," he said, per Harig.
Bradley is currently 19th in the Official World Golf Ranking. He won the Zozo Championship and the Travelers Championship last season, but hasn't had a victory in 2024 yet.
The United States lost last year's event 16.5-11.5. Luke Donald will captain Europe again in 2025 after leading the squad to victory in his first try.