Keegan Bradley has picked his 12-man Ryder Cup squad and while there was delight for some, Andrew Novak was one of the ones to not quite make the cut.
Novak has enjoyed a fine 2025 season which included him winning the Zurich Classic and finishing inside the top ten on five occasions.
However, despite a strong performance throughout the year and many believing Novak might make the final 12, he failed to make the team.
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In the end, Keegan Bradley went with the likes of Ben Griffin, Sam Burns and Cameron Young as he opted not to pick himself in a surprise move.
Still, while Novak was disappointed, the American has taken it on the chin and revealed just what he said to Bradley in response to the decision.
Andrew Novak shares what he told Keegan Bradley after missing the Ryder Cup team
One thing Team Europe have had over the Americans in recent times is an unwavering team spirit among the group.
Luke Donald has built on that further and in Rome in 2023, Europe were comfortably the better and more cohesive unit.
However, Bradley is clearly trying to alter that dynamic and speaking on the captain, Novak has explained how he reacted to his disappointing news.
“It’s definitely disappointing to miss the team. I wanted to be in Bethpage. I think the fans are going to be unbelievable,” Novak admitted.
“But I am also a team guy and right now I’m not one of the best 12 players. I want to win and I want those guys and Keegan, to go and win more than I want to be a negative on a team if I don’t feel like I am hitting the ball well enough right now. I am not driving the ball well enough right now.”
“I fully agree with what Keegan has done. I told him that on our call. I appreciate all the consideration this year, but I fully understand, I just haven’t been playing well enough.
“I think Keegan made it clear from earlier in the season that you have got to play well to make this team. There is a lot of good players trying to do it. While I was doing that early in the season I just flat out was not playing well at the end.”
Andrew Novak praises Ben Griffin for making the Ryder Cup squad
One of the players to make the team was the impressive Ben Griffin.
Seemingly out of nowhere, Griffin has emerged as one of the top players in the world in 2025 and it’s little surprise to see him selected, given his confidence.
Indeed, rather than being bitter over not being selected, Novak took time out to praise Griffin as well.
“He absolutely earned it. He played awesome, awesome golf all year. I think there was some concern in public that maybe he was not going to make it. But I think especially with how he played in the playoffs, some really solid finishes. I think he pretty much locked it up. His play really speaks for itself,” Novak said.
“We all got our calls, well I think we all did, on Monday morning. I was texting Ben on Monday morning, just making sure that he got the call up.
“I was sworn to secrecy but I was aware from Monday morning that he was on the team that obviously I am very happy about. I think he is going to crush it out there. He has got that kind of mindset, he is going to thrive in that match-play atmosphere.”
With two wins and ten top tens in the 2025 season, including strong performances at the PGA Championship and US Open, Griffin might end up being a real player for the USA to lean on at Bethpage.
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