The new PGA Tour season has officially snuck up on us! But let’s be honest, the golfing world is buzzing more about the upcoming majors and the iconic Ryder Cup than anything else. After all, the Ryder Cup is about winning or losing respect amongst fans and the country. The 2023 Ryder Cup was a loss for America, but it appears that things are going to change, especially with Keegan Bradley leaving no stone unturned for Ryder Cup revenge on Europe.

Speaking of Keegan Bradley, our new captain is currently swinging his clubs at The Sentry, yet you can tell his heart is still fixated on the Ryder Cup. In fact, thoughts of it practically consumed Bradley. He dreams about the event, and whenever inspiration strikes, he jots it down in his Notes app. It’s clear this is more than just a golf tournament for him; it’s a personal mission.

The role of the Ryder Cup captain is demanding, and filled with tough decisions. If Bradley keeps playing at this level, he might just find himself juggling both roles. Halfway through The Sentry, the first PGA Tour event of 2025, he sits just three shots off Hideki Matsuyama’s lead. “Certainly a maybe,” he said, regarding assuming both responsibilities. “But we’re two rounds into 2025. So if we get to July, and it’s looking like that, then we’ll start to talk. For now, I’m just going to keep playing my best.”

And it’s clear that his “best” is still pretty good enough to compete with the younger players who often dominate the field. He currently ranks 12th in the Official World Golf Ranking and has qualified for the last two TOUR Championships. It’s difficult to forget the moment when he was the only one left off during the 2023 Ryder Cup team despite winning twice in the previous PGA Tour season. It’s been a decade since he played on a U.S. Ryder Cup team, but his passion for the event is absolutely unwavering.

“I have two jobs,” Bradley shared. “My one job is out here, and then my other job is to be the captain and be the leader of the U.S. Ryder Cup team. I really enjoy being the captain. This isn’t difficult for me. I love talking to the guys, I love talking to my vice captains, and I love to play golf. So these aren’t difficult things. It’s stressful, for sure, but I enjoy both of them.”

Since being named the U.S. captain in July, he’s noticed his responsibilities ramping up. Since October, as the countdown to the 2025 competition hit the one-year mark, things have certainly picked up pace. However, it doesn’t seem to have impacted his game. In fact, he seems to walk and breathe his responsibilities with remarkable ease. “I’m thinking about it at at every moment,” he admitted. “There are specific occasions when I sit down and meet with the PGA of America and my vice captains—those are like documented times,” the captain continued. But that’s not all! The Ryder Cup is so much into Bradley that he is even “talking with my wife about ideas, and chatting with old coaches and players.”

But it’s also worth noting that his competitor, Luke Donald, is likely in the same boat, mentally preparing for the challenges ahead. Interestingly, despite their competition on the course, did you know that Bradley and Donald maintain a fantastic friendship off the course?

What relationship do Luke Donald and Keegan Bradley have?

Donald has spent most of his career on the PGA Tour, which has allowed him to form deep bonds with many of his fellow players. In a recent Sentry post-round interview, Keegan Bradley stated that “Luke is a legitimate friend of mine, so it’s certainly strange, but fun at the same time.” It’s encouraging to see that they have true friendship despite the difficulties of competition.

Bradley went on to explain that he sees Donald “at The Grove all the time” and added, “He’s legitimately a friend of mine. So it’s actually been really great, there’s no weirdness or anything; we both know we’re going to try our hardest to beat each other.” 

It’s remarkable how their shared bond does not overpower their competitive nature! Both are fully conscious of the goals, and it will be fascinating to see how they react if one of them walks away with the trophy. So what do you think? Who looks to be preparing well for the competition?