One of Keegan Bradley’s most important tasks during the 2025 Ryder Cup is surely going to be making sure that he gets the very best out of Scottie Scheffler as USA look to regain the trophy at Bethpage.
Scottie Scheffler silenced a lot of his doubters at the Presidents Cup after winning three points from his five matches at Royal Montreal. He had a point to prove after struggling in the previous staging of the event at Quail Hollow in 2022, as well as the Ryder Cup in Rome the following year.
Of course, Scheffler is the best player on the planet right now. The 28-year-old has won eight times worldwide in 2024, including a second Masters title. His form makes his performance at Marco Simone all the more surprising.
Keegan Bradley will be hoping to get more out of Scheffler than Zach Johnson managed to. Obviously, there are big question marks over Bradley with the 38-year-old proving to be a surprising choice to captain the US side in New York next year.
Scottie Scheffler issues his verdict on Keegan Bradley being named Ryder Cup captain
Even when Tiger Woods turned down the captaincy, few would have imagined that the PGA of America would turn to Bradley. It turns out that some of those likely to be on his team next year never envisaged the 2011 PGA champion getting the gig either.
Speaking on the Subpar podcast, Scheffler shared how he reacted to the news that Bradley would be the captain.
“I was definitely a bit surprised, but the more I thought about it, I was just getting fired up. I think he’s going to be awesome. Talking to him about the Ryder Cup, just catching up with him about it, he’s going to be a great captain. He’s going to be passionate. He’s going to make sure that we’re in a position to succeed and go out there and play well. I’m excited. I think he’s going to do a great job,” he said.
“I remember reading the announcement. I was like, okay, that was not the direction I thought they were going to go.
“And then I kind of sat there for a few minutes and I was like, wow, this is going to be awesome. Yeah, he’s going to be really good. And then, you know, we’ve sat down a few times and talked about it. And it just was confirmed even more, he’s going to be amazing.”
How the decision from the PGA of America now looks
In fairness, it seemed such a bizarre choice because Bradley had been out of the picture for so long. His appearance at last month’s Presidents Cup was his first in a team event in a decade. He also had not won either of his Ryder Cups as a player.
But Bradley has absolutely embraced the role. He has carried himself like a captain when the time has come, winning the point which sealed Jim Furyk’s side’s victory in Canada.
The shock seems to be subsiding with many seeing the logic in turning to someone like Bradley ahead of a Ryder Cup in New York. If the PGA of America wanted someone who was going to empathise with the crowds, Bradley seems to tick the boxes.
He also, crucially, seemingly has the seal of approval from the big names on the American team.
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