Keegan Bradley left a lasting impression on two of the greatest golfers to ever have played the game 10 years ago.
Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus both admitted how impressed they were with Bradley after something he did at the 2015 Masters.
The South African and the American won 27 major championships and 97 PGA Tour titles between them throughout their playing careers.
Nicklaus and Player share a very close relationship off the golf course, and they are both hugely respected by the current crop of PGA Tour stars.
Ryder Cup captain Bradley is clearly one of those who holds both golfing greats in very high esteem.
Bradley is playing unbelievably good golf right now, and it’s looking highly likely that he will qualify for his own Ryder Cup team for the showdown with Team Europe at Bethpage Black in September.
Like Nicklaus and Player, the 39-year-old is also a hugely respected figure within the game.
Keegan Bradley impressed Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus at the 2015 Masters
Nicklaus and Player have both acted as honorary starters at The Masters since 2010 and 2012 respectively.
The timeless tradition at Augusta National is one that honours the greats of yesteryear.
And it is a tradition that Bradley clearly has massive respect for.
Back in 2015, Player and Nicklaus both told reporters how impressed they were by the fact that Bradley came out to the golf course early to watch them both hit the ceremonial tee shots.
Player said: “Keegan Bradley. Whoever it was there, I can tell you that as a competitor that’s played in it a lot of times, I appreciated it very much indeed. It shows that they have respect for the game. I remember when Jock Hutchison used to tee off here, I used to go watch him, always.“
And Nicklaus replied: “I never got up that early (laughter). I think it was nice to see the young guys out there. You know, I think some people like to get up early and some like to, I sort of geared around what I had to do that day.
“I think that’s a nice gesture to do what they did and come out, but I think the important thing for them today is play well, and that should be their focus. It shouldn’t be us, but I think it’s a nice gesture on their part.“
That was sheer class from Bradley, and it’s a great example of his outstanding character.
That must have played a crucial role in the PGA of America appointing him as the U.S. Ryder Cup captain.
What Bradley has said about acting as a playing Ryder Cup captain
It’s all up in the air right now regarding whether Bradley will serve as both a player and a captain at Bethpage Black.
One thing’s for sure, he will not be relinquishing the captaincy.
The man from Vermont insisted on Sunday that he will retain his captaincy role for the 45th edition of the Ryder Cup.
“I’m definitely still going to be the captain. I’m not stepping down or any of that. I’ve put too much work into this, but I do have incredible vice-captains. Before I said where I definitely wasn’t going to play, I didn’t have any of these guys. Now that I’ve been around them, Jim Furyk, Sneds and Kisner and one more to come, I feel a lot more comfortable with that,” he said.
It seems like Bradley will almost certainly tee it up at the Ryder Cup as well so as things stand, the United States may well be on the verge of having their first playing captain since Arnold Palmer way back in 1963.
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