In a stunning twist that shocked the golf world—and even Keegan Bradley himself—the PGA of America hand-picked Bradley to captain america crew at subsequent 12 months’s Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black.
Earlier than the announcement, many speculated that Tiger Woods would lead Staff USA on the Black Course, the place he gained the 2002 U.S. Open. However Woods turned down the provide a number of weeks in the past. He gave his motive why in an announcement delivered Tuesday by Julius Mason from the PGA of America:
“With my new duties to the tour and time commitments concerned, I felt I couldn’t commit the time to Staff USA and the gamers required as a captain,” Woods stated.
“That doesn’t imply I wouldn’t need to captain a crew sooner or later. If/after I really feel it’s the proper time, I’ll put my hat within the ring for the committee to determine.”
Whether or not Woods will nonetheless have a task on the 2025 U.S. Ryder Cup crew stays to be seen.
“I’ve informed him he might be as concerned as he desires to be,” Bradley stated Tuesday in New York.
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“All of us look as much as Tiger; his opinion means lots to us. Being in crew rooms with Tiger, the general public doesn’t notice how vital that is to him. It’s every little thing. He lives and breathes [the Ryder Cup]. It exhibits you the way a lot he cares by turning this place down as a result of he didn’t really feel he may put in what he wanted to do along with his duties and what’s occurring with the tour.”
The PGA Tour welcomed Woods to its Coverage Board final August. Since then, the 15-time main winner has helped the tour safe a $1.5 billion funding from the Strategic Sports activities Group (SSG), a consortium of American sports activities house owners that features John Henry of the Boston Pink Sox, Arthur Clean of the Atlanta Falcons, and Steve Cohen of the New York Mets, amongst others.
Woods has additionally been important in negotiating a cope with the Saudi Public Funding Fund (PIF)—LIV Golf’s beneficiary. Talks between the PGA Tour and the PIF stay ongoing, which explains why Woods didn’t need to decide to the captaincy.
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That stated, Bradley felt obligated to contact Woods for his mentorship and his approval.
“I wanted to speak to Tiger earlier than accepting the function. I needed to ensure I [could do it]. I needed to listen to from him,” Bradley added.
“[Over the last two weeks,] I’ve spoken to Tiger a bunch. I talked to him this morning on the telephone. He’s been very useful. Tiger has all the time been actually useful to me. He’s an incredible voice to listen to, and he’s been nothing however — he’s been reaching out to me and serving to me, which has been superb.”
Although Woods is not going to function captain, it appears he’ll nonetheless play a task—no matter whether or not he returns as an official vice-captain. No one has a greater resume than him, regardless that his Ryder Cup file is just not as robust appropriately. Nonetheless, Woods’ presence—on the bottom at Bethpage or through telephone from Florida—will consequently assist Bradley and the Individuals as a complete.
Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Enjoying Via. Be sure you take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You possibly can observe him on Twitter @jack_milko as effectively.
