Phil Mickelson has praised Keegan Bradley’s selection as Team USA captain for the 2025 Ryder Cup, despite being informed he won’t have a role in the event.
Keegan Bradley was chosen by the PGA of America to lead Team USA against Europe at Bethpage Black next September.
Following his appointment, Bradley spoke to the media in New York and mentioned his ongoing friendship with Mickelson but ruled out any vice-captaincy role for him at the upcoming Ryder Cup.
Bradley expressed his thoughts on Mickelson’s involvement: “I still have a great relationship with Phil,” adding, “I don’t think he’s interested in being a vice-captain, and to be honest with you, he’s a captain someday I think. But I haven’t spoken to Phil, I don’t want to speak for him at all, but I think he’s pretty busy with what he’s doing.”
Mickelson later commented on Bradley’s captaincy, calling him ‘incredible’ and admitting his initial surprise at the decision. “I was surprised at the pick, and I think it’s a great pick the more I think about it,” Mickelson remarked before the LIV Golf event at Valderrama.
“He played a lot of golf at Bethpage when he went to St. Johns. His passion for the Ryder Cup is greater than just about any player I’ve ever seen. His love for the Ryder Cup is more than anybody I know. I think he’s going to lead with that type of passion. I think he’s incredible.
“I’m really, really happy for him. I think we all are really happy for him knowing how gut-wrenching it was to not be part of the team last year, but to now have the opportunity to lead and go forward I think is great.
“There was good news for Mickelson’s fellow LIV members though, after Bradley confirmed he would consider all of his options, regardless of what tour they player their golf on.”
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“I’m going to have the 12 best players on the team. I don’t care where they play,” Bradley claimed. “We have a mission to win this tournament and I don’t care about the LIV stuff.
“I want the best players on the team. By the time we get to Bethpage in 2025, we don’t know how things are going to look.
“”As it comes to going to LIV events, if there’s guys that are on the fringe, I’m willing to do that,” he said. “My biggest concern is having the best players on the team. ” Keen to stay out of the off-course politics, he added: “Again, I think in 2025, by the time the Ryder Cup comes, maybe the golf world looks totally different.
I just want the best players on the team. I think it’s silly for the US team to not have the best players.”
