Bradley Still Reeling from Ryder Cup Loss, Eyes Captaincy Return
American golfer Keegan Bradley has publicly shared his lingering disappointment following the United States’ Ryder Cup defeat at Bethpage last year. The emotional toll of the event, he admits, is still a significant factor in his current mindset. Bradley is also expressing a keen interest in potentially reprising his role as US captain for the next Ryder Cup at Adare Manor in September, should Tiger Woods decide against taking on the responsibility.
The Ryder Cup at Bethpage was a dramatic affair. Europe, initially appearing set for a dominant victory, faced a spirited charge from the American team on the final day. Despite the US team’s valiant comeback, Europe ultimately secured the coveted trophy for the second consecutive time. For Bradley, who has since returned to competitive play on the PGA Tour, the sting of that loss remains palpable.
“It has been a little difficult,” Bradley confessed. “I’m still heartbroken from the Ryder Cup. So I am trying my best to separate myself and move on but it’s hard. I think about it a lot. I think about the guys a lot and I’m still in the process of getting past all that.”
He elaborated on the immense pressure and dedication involved in captaincy, stating, “Unless you’re a captain of the Ryder Cup team, you just have no idea what goes into it and the emotional toll that it takes on you. I think like a lot of guys that do it, they’re basically done playing. I’m the first person to have to deal with this, get back out there, try to be one of the best players in the world and make the next team. So I’m still navigating how to do that. But it’s on my mind.”
Woods’ Captaincy Decision Looms, Bradley Open to Second Stint
The PGA of America is reportedly eager for Tiger Woods to make a decision regarding the captaincy for the upcoming Ryder Cup before the Masters next month. Woods, a decorated 15-time major champion, has remained somewhat ambiguous about his intentions, citing potential time constraints due to his involvement in various PGA Tour committees.
Should Woods decline the opportunity, Keegan Bradley has indicated his willingness to step back into the captain’s role. While this prospect hasn’t been widely circulated, the pool of readily available and experienced candidates to lead the US team appears limited.
“I mean, yeah, sure, I would,” Bradley responded when asked about the possibility of returning as captain. “But I don’t know if that’s on the cards. I think any Ryder Cup captain that loses would like to do it again. But that’s not up to me.”
He also acknowledged the potential conflict between playing at a high level and fulfilling the demanding duties of a Ryder Cup captain. “I think that the distraction of me playing, maybe playing isn’t really what the position is about. So who knows in the future.” As a former Ryder Cup captain, Bradley is also involved in the internal discussions and decision-making processes surrounding the appointment.
McIlroy Navigates Players Championship and Masters Preparation
In other PGA Tour news, Keegan Bradley’s performance at Sawgrass saw him survive the cut at the Players Championship with a second-round 66, following an opening 77. He will be joined in the weekend play by Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy, who narrowly avoided missing the cut after a fluctuating performance on Friday. McIlroy’s closing 71, leaving him one over par, means he will head into the Masters without the need to add another competitive event to his pre-Augusta schedule. The Players Championship is set to be McIlroy’s final outing before he defends his Green Jacket at Augusta National, commencing on April 9th.
McIlroy expressed satisfaction with his ability to consistently make cuts on the PGA Tour. “I have 280-odd starts on the PGA Tour and I’ve missed less than 30 cuts,” McIlroy stated. “I’m proud of that.”
Reflecting on the pressure of the final holes, he recounted a conversation with television analyst and former caddie Bones Mackay. “Bones asked me walking down my last hole there: ‘What’s your plan after this for the next few weeks?’ I said: ‘Bones, I’ll tell you after this hole. There’s a lot riding on this golf hole.’ Obviously I wanted to make the cut. Of course you want to be here for the weekend. I’m happy to get two more runs at it. It would have sucked to be going home this afternoon.”
Crucially for McIlroy, he reported ongoing progress in recovering from a back injury that forced his withdrawal from the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando the previous weekend. “I feel like it’s just progressively getting better each and every day,” he commented.
Åberg Leads Players Championship, Fox Undergoes Surgery
Meanwhile, Swedish golfer Ludvig Åberg has surged to a two-shot lead at the Players Championship after a remarkable 63 in his second round. He stands at 12 under par after 36 holes, with American Xander Schauffele in pursuit.
Among those who did not make the cut at Sawgrass were Shane Lowry and Marco Penge. Adding to the day’s news, Ryan Fox, who had withdrawn from the tournament prior to the first round, revealed via social media that he underwent emergency surgery for kidney stones in Florida on Wednesday.
