DORAL, Fla. – Make no mistake, Keegan Bradley is on fire to captain the US Ryder Cup team again.
Losing Europe 2025 this past fall to his beloved Bethpage Black left Bradley – as he said on Wednesday – “with a broken part of my soul.”
Instead of Bradley getting a chance at redemption, the PGA of America announced last week that 55-year-old Jim Furyk is getting a second chance to captain the American team.
Furyk, who lost the 2018 captaincy in France, will captain the US in 2027 at Adare Manor in Ireland as the Americans try to end Europe’s dominance at home, where they haven’t won since 1993.
“I’d like to get another chance because it’s a broken part of my soul,” Bradley, speaking for the first time since Furyk was named, said after playing his round before the Cadillac Championship at Trump Doral. “I’d like to get revenge. [the loss]and I’m glad Jim has that.”
Bradley, who is on the Ryder Cup committee that selected Furyk, has been vocal in favor of Furyk’s second captaincy.
“He brings a lot of experience,” Bradley said.” He has learned a lot over the years. He has been a captain and is someone we all really look up to. I think the best thing to do is to have some sort of reset known property here.
“As a defeated captain, I don’t know if [Furyk] did you think you would get this opportunity,” Bradley continued. “I think it’s a great feeling for him to get another shot at this. I think he learns more from being a losing captain than he does from winning. Jim had the unique experience of losing the Ryder Cup and winning the President’s Cup. [as captain].”
Bradley recalled how calm Furyk, as one of his captain’s supporters, remained after the US fell behind badly on the first day in Bethpage.
“I was trying to create a culture for the guys where they knew it was going to be a relaxed atmosphere, and Jim brought that,” Bradley said. “I was also able to pick his brain about the analytical side and just the day-to-day stuff of being a captain.”
When asked about those who questioned Furyk’s selection, pointing to his losing record as a player (10-20-4) in the Ryder Cup and one loss as captain, Bradley said, “You won’t hear that from the players. I think the players are happy.”
Bradley praised Furyk’s no-nonsense style as a captain.
“Jim is as much a captain as he is a player – he doesn’t move,” Bradley said. “He’s not going to get up and give you fiery speeches. I get up and give speeches, wake up guys and all that. Jim, he’s himself.”
Bradley revealed that his return as captain in 2027 was not mentioned in the programme.
“I think having someone who was close to making the team is not about position,” he said, referring to how close he is to getting the team in 2025 in points. “I don’t know if they fully expected me to be where I am sitting. [in the points standings]. I was at the highest level in the world, and I don’t know if they wanted to go through that again.
“I think they wanted to get back on track.”
Bradley said he would “love” to be one of Furyk’s vice-captains in Ireland, but added, “That’s not for me.”
“I will still be the assistant captain,” he said. “I’d love to do that one day, but I’ll certainly understand either way because I’m in this weird place where I’m going to try to make the team (in 2027). I’ll get any side of it – to be there or not.”
“I know I’ll be focusing on Jim. Jim is like my hero, someone I really look up to. I’ll be there to help him. He knows that. I’m proud to have him as my vice-captain.”
The 2027 Ryder Cup was supposed to be captained by Tiger Woods. Woods has a close relationship with JP McManus, owner of Adare Manor, and turned down the Bethpage job because he said he was busy with PGA Tour policy board work.
When Woods got into his latest car accident and left the country for a rehab trip, that ended any chance of a captaincy in ’27.
Bradley said he and all the other players are eagerly awaiting Woods to captain the US Ryder Cup team.
“I think when he’s ready, he will,” Bradley said. “All of us players, from the ground up, want that. I know myself, I would kill to play for Tiger and have him be my captain. I don’t know if I’ll ever get that opportunity, but that would be great fun.”
