Inside Perspective to Keegan Bradley’s Ryder Cup Selection
By Tom Lang
The PGA of America announced Keegan Bradley as the next Ryder Cup captain, for the international match that will take place next year at Bethpage Black in New York.
We got a one-on-one inside look and commentary from Boo Weekly, former Ryder Cup captain Jim Furyk, and the PGA of America president, John Lindert – who is also director of golf at Country Club of Lansing.
Boo Weekly, former USA Ryder Cup player:
“I’m happy for him, ya know. I mean, he’s a grinder. I got to play with him when I was out on the Tour, and I mean he’s a super nice guy. I’ve never had no problem with him and a lot of the guys, you know, they enjoy playing with him. We’ve all kinda got our own winks and kinks in how we play, but at the same time, I think he’s going to do good. I think he’ll be a good captain and can get the boys ready to play.”
Jim Furyk, USA Captain of 2018 Ryder Cup:
“One of the things I did hear Keegan say was that he was surprised to get the call, so I think it was probably a surprising nod right off the bat. I have since reached out and congratulated him, and also said if there’s anything I could do, or if he’s got any questions, I’ve been there – and have some past experience, both good and bad. And some lessons to learn and if he needed any advice or help or just wanted to call and chat, I’d be there for him.”
“Ultimately, the thing for a captain in a Ryder Cup is that … we’re so used to, as players, to just worry about us. We put a team around us, whose sole job is to help us. Our caddie, a swing coach, maybe a putting coach, a mental coach. Whatever it may be, whatever the team is, folks tend to surround themselves with people that are there to help them play well.”
“When you’re a Captain, it’s the reverse. You become a CEO. You’re not just overlooking 12 people – you’re looking at the team, the caddies, wives and significant others, a whole group of PGA of America folks. You’re now running a group of 50 people, and there’s no real good way to judge right off the bat who is that person, who’s going to be that great CEO and that great leader. I think Keegan has a great opportunity. I think it’s wonderful that he’s doing it here in the United States.
“The fans at Bethpage are the loudest – I’m going to say it in a nice way – they are the loudest crowd I have ever seen in my entire life. They are vocal, and they’re going to be a huge asset for the Americans. Keegan will have one of the most important tasks – how to set up that golf course to try to give the Americans a little advantage or a little tilt, and I think he is wise enough he’s going to surround himself with enough people that are good folks, that have experience and will lead the team in the right direction.
“So, he was an interesting choice, but I know Keegan well; I am happy for him and I think he can do a good job.”
Lindert said the Ryder Cup committee was made up of himself, two more PGA reps and Zach Johnson, Jordan Speith and Justin Thomas. Lindert confirmed that Tiger Woods was a candidate who took himself out of consideration for the near future, and then went on to talk about who can handle the pressures both inside and outside the ropes – plus the fan base of a ruckus America-centric crowd in New York at Bethpage Black.
“You need somebody who can level-set the players, and make sure the players are laser focused on the job at hand,” Lindert told me. “Keegan Bradley … went to St. John’s University as a standout player there and the team played Bethpage on a regular basis. He’s a big New York City fan, and New York City is a big fan of Keegan’s... he’s the son of a PGA professional, he’s a PGA Champion and a two-time Ryder Cuper. He is a fierce, fierce competitor – and when you talk to him about Ryder Cup and you talk to him about competing, it’s personal.”
“These players travel from city to city and they have their routines. When you have a guy like Keegan Bradley who is currently ranked 19 and is traveling and playing, he gets it, he gets what the routines of the players are today… and anytime you break a player’s routine, you don’t benefit them to perform at their highest level. And when you are a player playing with your potential team members, you gain a really good understanding of what they need. You want to help them facilitate the very best options to perform their very best.”
Lindert said he thinks Keegan has a chance to qualify on points to be a player on the Ryder Cup, and the PGA has in recent years hired a manager to take care of the many logistical things a captain, like Furyk, used to handle.
“As he said (at the press conference), Keegan still thinks he’s in his prime. He is 38 years young and can still perform at a very high level, so it will be very interesting. I think it would be one of the coolest things in the world to have Keegan Bradley follow Arnold Palmer (the last, 60 years ago) as the next playing captain.
“Just take a look in his eyes,” Lindert said of Bradley’s passion. “There are a thousand photos of Keegan staring down the line of a putt or staring down a shot, and that’s fierce competitiveness. But it’s also focus. It’s passion… He is focused and he is committed to being a winning Ryder Cup captain.”
