In a stunning twist that shocked the golf world—and even Keegan Bradley himself—the PGA of America hand-picked Bradley to captain the United States crew at subsequent 12 months’s Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black.
Before the announcement, many speculated that Tiger Woods would lead Team USA on the Black Course, the place he gained the 2002 U.S. Open. But Woods turned down the provide a number of weeks in the past. He gave his purpose why in a press release delivered Tuesday by Julius Mason from the PGA of America:
“With my new obligations to the tour and time commitments concerned, I felt I couldn’t commit the time to Team USA and the gamers required as a captain,” Woods stated.
“That doesn’t imply I wouldn’t wish to captain a crew sooner or later. If/once I really feel it’s the proper time, I’ll put my hat within the ring for the committee to resolve.”
Whether Woods will nonetheless have a job on the 2025 U.S. Ryder Cup crew stays to be seen.
“I’ve instructed him he may be as concerned as he desires to be,” Bradley stated Tuesday in New York.
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“We all look as much as Tiger; his opinion means so much to us. Being in crew rooms with Tiger, the general public doesn’t notice how vital that is to him. It’s every little thing. He lives and breathes [the Ryder Cup]. It reveals you ways a lot he cares by turning this place down as a result of he didn’t really feel he may put in what he wanted to do along with his obligations and what’s happening with the tour.”
The PGA Tour welcomed Woods to its Policy Board final August. Since then, the 15-time main winner has helped the tour safe a $1.5 billion funding from the Strategic Sports Group (SSG), a consortium of American sports activities homeowners that features John Henry of the Boston Red Sox, Arthur Blank of the Atlanta Falcons, and Steve Cohen of the New York Mets, amongst others.
Woods has additionally been important in negotiating a cope with the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF)—LIV Golf’s beneficiary. Talks between the PGA Tour and the PIF stay ongoing, which explains why Woods didn’t wish to decide to the captaincy.
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That stated, Bradley felt obligated to contact Woods for his mentorship and his approval.
“I wanted to speak to Tiger earlier than accepting the position. I wished to verify I [could do it]. I wished to listen to from him,” Bradley added.
“[Over the last two weeks,] I’ve spoken to Tiger a bunch. I talked to him this morning on the cellphone. He’s been very useful. Tiger has at all times been actually useful to me. He’s an important voice to listen to, and he’s been nothing however — he’s been reaching out to me and serving to me, which has been superb.”
Even although Woods won’t function captain, apparently he’ll nonetheless play a job—no matter whether or not he returns as an official vice-captain. Nobody has a greater resume than him, regardless that his Ryder Cup report shouldn’t be as sturdy accurately. Still, Woods’ presence—on the bottom at Bethpage or by way of cellphone from Florida—will consequently assist Bradley and the Americans as a complete.
Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be positive to take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You can observe him on Twitter @jack_milko as nicely.
