You have to have some sympathy for those on Team USA at the 2025 Ryder Cup due to the fact that they cannot admit that there needs to be a structural overhaul without appearing to be critical of Keegan Bradley.
Ultimately, Keegan Bradley was unable to end his wait for a first Ryder Cup win at Bethpage Black. Team USA almost staged the greatest sporting comeback of all time in New York, but Europe built up enough of a lead over the first two days to stumble across the line.
Did Keegan Bradley make a bigger mistake than how he set up Bethpage Black at the Ryder Cup?
The manner of the loss certainly sent a message to the PGA of America. Luke Donald‘s men became the first away side to win an away Ryder Cup since 2012.
Bryson DeChambeau was born the same month that Team USA last won the event in Europe.
Ted Scott issues his verdict on Keegan Bradley’s Ryder Cup captaincy
Bradley definitely made some big mistakes. Bethpage Black was nothing like the monster that most fans wanted it to be. Team Europe were pleasantly surprised by the setup.
Meanwhile, some of Bradley’s pairings and selection decisions did not make a lot of sense.
Nevertheless, speaking to Grant Horvat, Scottie Scheffler‘s caddie Ted Scott insisted that he was hugely impressed by the role the captain played.
“It was awesome. Keegan was amazing. He was such a great captain. Credit to Team Europe. They just putted unbelievable. For four sessions, at least in our group, against Scottie, statistically this is not even possible what they’re doing. It was amazing,” he said.
“I’ve never seen putting like that. It was incredible. Statistically, it’s not even possible what they were doing.”
The biggest mistake Team USA could make ahead of the 2027 Ryder Cup
There has been a lot of praise for Bradley in the wake of the Ryder Cup. J.J. Spaun backed Bradley to captain the American team at Adare Manor in 2027.
It is no surprise that they have rallied around him. Bradley was put in an impossible position by the PGA of America. And clearly, Europe did outplay the Americans over the first two days.
If Tiger Woods is not the next US Ryder Cup captain, who should get the job for Adare Manor?
“No one’s asked me.”
Tiger Woods’ response when asked if he would be interested in the 2027 Ryder Cup captaincy
However, behind the scenes, those who expect to be involved in Ireland in two years should be desperate to work out why the team’s record is so poor, particularly in Europe.
The worst thing Team USA could do is read too much into what happened on Sunday in New York. The fact remains that Europe were able to win one match in the singles and leave with the trophy.
If they go into 2027 with the mindset that they were so close at Bethpage, another defeat is surely on the cards.
And the cycle of criticism would begin all over again.
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