Keegan Bradley took part in a press conference on Tuesday, October 8, where the captains of the 2025 Ryder Cup teams provided early information about the event. Among other things, Bradley discussed the possibility of Phil Mickelson serving as vice-captain.
After the press conference, Bradley met with several journalists and continued to answer questions. Christopher Powers of Golf Digest asked him if Mickelson might be involved in the next Ryder Cup, to which Bradley replied that the 6-time Major champion was “not interested”.
“I don’t think he’s really interested in doing it. I owe a lot to Phil, and I think he’s done so much for the American side of the Ryder Cup, but I’m not so sure he’s looking to come in as a vice-captain.” [0:21 – 0:34]
In January 2024, Mickelson appeared on the popular Pat McAfee Show, where he asserted that he was not the “right guy” to lead the American team to the next Ryder Cup because he was currently too “divisive” a figure.
Keegan Bradley and Phil Mickelson have an extraordinary record as a team in the Ryder Cup, going 3-1 in four matches played in the 2012 and 2014 editions. Including the 2013 Presidents Cup, their record is five wins, one draw and two losses in eight matches.
What did Keegan Bradley talk about at the press conference?
The press conference was held by Keegan Bradley and Luke Donald, captains of the U.S. and European teams, respectively, for the 2025 Ryder Cup. The event took place at Bethpage Black, the site of the event.
During the conference, Bradley also talked about what it meant to have the opportunity to play with Phil Mickelson on several occasions. Here is part of what he had to say (via ASAP Sports):
“He mentored me before the event. Took me to dinner. Talked to me nonstop throughout the year about the pressures and what’s going to come and I really learned a lot, and it hasn’t been until now that I’ve really realized what an incredible thing it was that he did for me.”
Bradley also spoke about other issues, such as the ranking system for the American team. He assured that the same system that has been used for several editions will be maintained, as he believes it works well to identify the 12 best players.
The American captain also answered questions about his possible participation as a player. He said that it would be a very difficult challenge, but that he is currently focused on his responsibilities as a captain and will only think about his role as a player when the time comes.
Bradley also talked about what it’s like to play at Bethpage Black. He talked about how important it is to the sport for public courses like this to host top-level tournaments.
