“Was there ever a part of you that wanted to say no?” Keegan Bradley wasn’t too surprised when the question was posed to him. The 37-year-old golfer is ranked in the top 25 in the world. Couple that with him being in the prime of his career, it must have surely added to the doubts about his not-so-typical time in taking up the Ryder Cup captaincy. Well, the PGA Tour Pro also seems to have been worried about the same.

“I certainly had to think about it,” said Bradley in an interview during a new episode, No. 688, of the Foreplay Podcast Plus. “To be perfectly honest,” added the 2025 U.S.A. Ryder Cup captain, “I wasn’t 100% comfortable with it at first with just the legends that had been passed over.” From Ben Hogan to Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, and Tom Watson, the American team has been led by many legendary golfers throughout the years.

Aug 25, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Keegan Bradley plays his shot from the sixth tee during the second round of the TOUR Championship golf tournament at East Lake Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY SportsThe Vermont native also alluded to how Stewart Cink, the 2024 Ryder Cup vice-captain, deserved the position as well when the veteran’s name came up. The athlete also swiftly followed it with a recount of the time when Justin Leonard, back in the 1999 Ryder Cup, holed a 45-foot putt for birdie on the 17th green at The Country Club.. He was tied with European Jose Maria Olazabal during his singles match on the final day of the prestigious event. And his iconic birdie would ensure the American team’s victory with a figure of 14.5–13.5.

“I was at that Ryder Cup in ’99 at Brooklyn,” said Bradley while reminiscing about the same, “That moment changed my life… This is what I wanted to do, but that exact moment when he made that putt, it accelerated everything for me. It was like a moment that I can look back on.” The current U.S. skipper, at the same time, hinted at how trying to live up to that legend, especially one that he dubs “the most famous United States Ryder Cup shot,” might prove to be “heavy.”

Then what changed for Bradley? “I had so much support from the players and the, you know, the fans,” said the 2011 PGA Championship winner. Well, it’s not a surprise seeing as how the various professionals and followers came forward to support him, making the decision so much easier. Especially since he focuses on the ‘family’ aspect of the American team above all.

Keegan Bradley’s Ryder Cup goal, per analyst

John Wood, the team manager for the U.S., mentioned in an exclusive interview with Sirius XM PGA Tour Radio how Bradley was all about the personal connection between the team members. He also divulged how the skipper was prepared for everything and knew exactly what his aim was for the team as if it were the culmination of a five-year plan in motion.

Wood, at the same time, also made sure to highlight the “family”-like camaraderie that the PGA Tour Pro was aiming for in the 2025 team. He also revealed how the 37-year-old, through this, hoped to bring in more energy into the team while aiming to clinch back the win: “When you start pulling for other people as hard as you’re pulling for yourself, that’s when it gets special and that’s Keegan’s goal for this team.” 

Even though the golfer was a bit doubtful about accepting the position, it appears he has decided to make it his own and pour his all into it. But will Keegan Bradley successfully be able to lead the team to victory? His fans would certainly hope so!