For Keegan Bradley, the 2024 season was a rollercoaster ride, transitioning from a moderate season to becoming the U.S. captain for the Ryder Cup. Reflecting on this in 2024, the American golfer said, “I want the best for the team no matter what that is.” However, Keegan Bradley’s rise to such status has not been easy, as is clear by his latest conversation during a podcast appearance, and there’s a rather bizarre reason behind it.

For Keegan Bradley, most of the off-the-greens lessons came later in his career. Bradley realized, thanks to his interactions with fellow Tour players, that the sport didn’t need to be so lonely after all. Talking about the same on the Subpar podcast, Bradley said, “When I first came on tour, I looked at everybody as the enemy. Like, I would make things up in my head. I would think this guy thinks I stink, blah, blah, blah. These guys are all buddies, and they root for each other.” 

When it comes to players from this generation, this is one change that is the most striking to Bradley. He sees the golfers rooting for each other and be friends both on and off the green. And this is one practice he is starting to engage in now. He added, “I felt like being friendly with somebody would be a disadvantage, and I just think this group of guys and the way they go about their careers is so great. It’s so refreshing for me to see, and I love it.” But this isn’t the first time the U.S. Ryder Cup team’s captain has discussed this. 

In 2024, Bradley did something similar ahead of the Tour Championship by admitting that he was afraid that making friends would somehow hurt him. But his late confessions also come from a hectic schedule. Last year, the 38-year-old celebrated his win at the BMW Championship, just six weeks after being surprisingly named captain for the upcoming Ryder Cup in New York.

But Keegan Bradley’s attention isn’t limited to his fellow friends. Discussing his family life, Bradley shared the actual tough part of his job. “I actually, I actually think I like preparing more than I like playing now. It’s a really bizarre thing. But I will say for me, being away from the family is really tough. I really like, like even today, this week, it’s my third week on the road. I’m sitting in my room by myself. I’m thinking like, jeez, this is tough.” 

But that doesn’t mean Keegan Bradley hates playing. Just this year, the golfer played in 9 events, including the Masters Tournament and the ongoing RBC Heritage. So, although playing for the Tour is a “dream” for him, traveling is the tough part. It doesn’t help that Keegan Bradley misses out on his important family moments. For instance, the golfer shared that he missed out on his son’s baseball playoff a day earlier. Did his son win? No. But it was a missed opportunity. However, part of what makes his job easier is probably his family’s presence during his games.

Keegan Bradley’s family was present to support him during his 2025 mission

For Keegan Bradley, the run at Augusta National hasn’t been very successful. This year, the American golfer made his 9th start at the prestigious golf course. Although he missed the cut, Bradley has finished inside the top 25 at Augusta National in each of the past two years. Regardless of his moderate finishes, what makes Bradley’s time at Augusta National even better is his family. For instance, his little family was present at Augusta National during the 2025 Par-3 Contest. So, how did he go for the American? Well, quite well, if you ask us!

Bradley, with his signature mustache, made headlines at the Masters’ Par 3 Contest by scoring a hole-in-one on the 144-yard Juniper (6). Once through, Bradley couldn’t help but lift his sons (Logan and Cooper) in the air and hug his wife after the amazing shot.

Ahead of the Masters Tournament, Keegan Bradley’s family was present during his final round at Bay Hill. Talking about his family, the golfer said, “These guys stuck around, I didn’t know it–I figured they’re my good luck charm.” Keegan Bradley had earlier hugged his family before the first tee, but didn’t know they were going to stay. He couldn’t help but call their move “so special” to him. Undoubtedly, Keegan Bradley has a beautiful and supportive family at home, so it makes sense why the golfer misses his family so much.