Keegan Bradley and Luke Donald, captains of the United States and Europe teams respectively for the upcoming edition of the Ryder Cup to be held at Bethpage Black next year, offered an interesting press conference this Tuesday in which they reviewed numerous aspects related to the world’s most famous golf tournament. An event where the leader of the stars and stripes team insisted on his desire to be both captain and player, while the head of the Europeans offered his particular and softened version of the supposed ‘hellish’ atmosphere awaiting his team at the famous New York course.
A few days ago, the Presidents Cup took place, in which Bradley was part of the USA team and took the opportunity to soak up the work of the captains. “It was very important for me, being close that time… First, I was going to be vice-captain and then I played, I didn’t take that position. So it was important for me to remember the nerves of those tournaments, the preparation, observing what Jim and the vice-captains were doing, creating a positive atmosphere for success… and above all, having a real plan,” he said. But from the beginning, he wanted to make it clear that he is not backing down and continues to dream of playing the Ryder.
“Playing in the Ryder Cup teams has always been a big goal. Right now, it’s so far away that I’m really not going to worry much about it. But once we get closer to the tournament, if I’m high on the points list, I’ll start thinking about it. Right now, I’m focused on being captain and that’s all,” he said. And what would happen if he manages to qualify through the points list? “All the vice-captains I choose will know it’s a possibility. So they’ll be aware. I also have John Wood… But all the vice-captains are going to be more than capable of handling it, I hope that someday they all get to be captains. But I insist, I’m far away, so I’m focusing on the captaincy.”
Donald, on the other hand, recalled his first visits to the 2025 Ryder venue: “I’m relatively familiar with Bethpage. I played my first US Open there in 2002, it’s a great course, a state park in the middle of Long Island in the New York area. An incredible place open to the public that hosts major events. It’s a tough course, it will be a great stage for the Ryder. I didn’t grow up in New York, I grew up in England, but I spent a lot of time in Chicago, where we played at Medinah. New York gives me a similar feeling, they are big sports cities, with a lot of energy and I’m sure they’ll bring it to Bethpage.”
What seems clear is that for Luke, the hostile atmosphere expected for his team in the tournament is less daunting than it was in the previous edition on American soil: “The advantage we had in Rome playing at home makes you feel the energy of the crowd and you can feed off it. Obviously, when we come to New York, it will be a very pro-American atmosphere. But the good thing about this city is that it’s a melting pot of cultures. There are very different people, I even see it as a similarity to our team. I’m sure there will be some support, which we didn’t have at Whistling Straits, which was a very tough environment. But yes, we know it will be favourable to the United States and we will be prepared for it. The Ryder is special because of that.”
Bradley and Donald also addressed the situation of LIV Golf players, with very different viewpoints. While the American opens the door to those he believes are among the best in his country, the European limits himself to listing the selection rules governing his team. “I’m going to pick the 12 best players. If we feel that some guys there, one, two, or however many, we’ll choose them. But we’re still too far away to know. The only thing we have clear is that we’ll choose the 12 best no matter what,” said Keegan.
Luke, for his part, said: “The policies of the DP World Tour have been very consistent. There has been a lot of clarity about it. Really, it’s the same as in Rome. You have to be a member of the tour and born in Europe. If you meet the requirements and the rules set by the DP World Tour, you are eligible. There are a lot of LIV Golf guys who are eligible right now, so I can select them if I wish.” Among them are players like the Spaniard Jon Rahm or the Englishman Tyrrell Hatton, who are competing in the latest European tour events, and for whom Donald had specific words during his appearance.
“I’ve spoken with Jon. I’ve spoken with all the guys who have a chance of being on the team. It was great to see Rahm do what he had to do to remain eligible and see him in Spain. Last week he also played very well at the Dunhill. We are in constant communication. I talk to everyone, with him, with Tyrrell… It was great to see Hatton win last week, good communication with all of them I think is vital for the team and I’ve been maintaining it,” said the European captain regarding the situation of two of his great figures… and LIV Golf.
A review by Bradley of his first Ryder playing with Phil Mickelson, whom he said he was very grateful for how he helped him before and during the tournament, something he hopes his veterans will do with the rookies at Bethpage, the offer from Colsaerts to be part of the European team in some way, and the talks of Keegan with Tiger Woods, whom he describes as a “mentor” of his team were other topics covered in a long and interesting press conference in which both skirted around the course setup and its latest changes, awaiting to know the preparation planned by Keegan.
