Keegan Bradley reveals how Luke Donald treated him when he was a PGA Tour youngster ahead of the Ryder Cup starting

Add as preferred source on Google

Keegan Bradley and Luke Donald will have a reunion like no other next month, with the pair going head-to-head at the Ryder Cup.

Bradley will captain the US Team at Bethpage Black for the next edition of the Ryder Cup, with Donald captaining Team Europe.

American captain Bradley could play himself at the Ryder Cup, with his decision set to be announced on Wednesday.

He has taken over the reins from Zach Johnson, who lost out to Donald and Europe at the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome.

Donald welcomed Tyrrell Hatton and Robert MacIntyre to his side earlier this month, with six players now confirmed for both teams.

Keegan Bradley shares how Luke Donald treated him when he was a youngster on the PGA Tour

Those numbers will each double to 12 before the action gets underway, as both Bradley and Donald select their captain’s picks for Bethpage Black.

And the relationship between the two skippers has now emerged as the tournament approaches, with Bradley telling the official Ryder Cup channel: “I have a really great friendship with Luke Donald. He was I would say the first ‘top player’ to treat me with respect. He invited me to play practice rounds.

READ MORE: Keegan Bradley deserves enormous credit for what he did after Tommy Fleetwood won the Tour Championship

“He was number one in the world at the time and it really meant a lot to me that he would come up and play with my buddies and we hung out. I felt that Luke was the first real major player to treat me as a peer. I really appreciate Luke Donald.”

Keegan Bradley vs Luke Donald PGA Tour record

Both Donald and Bradley have enjoyed fantastic and lengthy PGA Tour careers as they prepare to battle it out at Bethpage Black.

The Englishman has five wins from his 433 appearances, while the American is on figures of eight and 374 respectively.

But such totals for any player involved will matter not this time next month, when individual records will be replaced by team performance.

Players must, of course, shine on their own when it matters on the course, but a real team spirit and unity will be needed to triumph in New York.

That was certainly on show from the home side last time out, when Donald guided the Europeans to a memorable win in Rome.

They secured a superb 16½ – 11½ victory over the Americans, who will have revenge at the front of their minds come the first tee shot at this year’s tournament.