Everywhere Keegan Bradley goes, the USA chants follow, raining down on him as a reminder of what lies ahead. And as the countdown continues until the opening tee shot of the 2025 Ryder Cup, now 100 days away, they will only intensify for the captain.
After making his final putt at the US Open last Sunday, Bradley pumped his fist to the Oakmont crowd that was pouring down chants onto him. At this week’s Travelers Championship, the final signature event on the PGA Tour schedule, Bradley is looking forward to seeing the reception he gets in what is a home game of sorts; Bradley graduated from Hopkinton High School in Massachusetts and St. John’s University in New York.
“It’s always pretty loud for me here, and this year I think it’s going to be really exciting,” Bradley said on Wednesday.
Bradley—who at 39 will be the youngest US Ryder Cup captain since Arnold Palmer was 34 in 1963—admitted balancing his leadership responsibility with playing full time on the PGA Tour has been a challenge, but says it hasn’t affected his preparation or practice. However, he did say the Ryder Cup responsibilities have been a nice distraction at times. Instead of focusing on his game 24/7, Bradley said he’s looking at the points list, potential pairings, talking to scouts and vice captains, strategy and schedules.
“I really have enjoyed every second of this,” Bradley said. “It hasn’t affected me personally on the golf course, I don’t think, but I really have enjoyed this so much. Definitely with 100 days, the last things are ramping up here a ton. The guys that we have are such great guys, it’s been a blast.”
Keegan Bradley reacts to the USA chants after finishing up his final round at the US Open. Ross Kinnaird
Following the BMW Championship on August 17, six of the 12 players on the US team will have secured a roster spot via the automatic points list (Scottie Scheffler already has locked up one of those six spots, while Bradley himself is No. 17). The other six will come at Bradley’s choosing.
The biggest recent US riser is J.J. Spaun, who jumped 10 spots to No. 3 following his US Open victory. On Wednesday, Bradley said he has spoken with Spaun and expressed he would be a strong addition to the roster.
“I think going to a course like Bethpage Black, the people are really going to be behind a guy like J.J. Spaun,” Bradley said. “His story is incredible. He’s a hard-working guy that’s just building and building and building his whole career. To win the US Open at Oakmont, in my eyes, is the pinnacle of major golf. It’s as tough as you can get.
“I think he’s a guy that people at Bethpage will really resonate with and a guy that on our team is the heartbeat. He’s now the US Open champion. That’s a heavy burden to bear, but that’s also a great thing to have on your team.”
There are still a few big events—including the Open Championship—for players to work their way into qualifying spots. It’s too early for Bradley to speculate on his captain’s picks, although it appears that he is conscious of players’ personalities and how that might fit in with what is anticipated to be a rather boisterous pro-USA crowd.
“I think the guys … you know, there’s certain guys on our team that that’s what they do. They get into the crowd. They hype the crowd up,” Bradley said. “Then there’s other guys that just go about their business. I just want them to be who they are. They don’t have to be anybody that they’re not, but we certainly have some guys that are going to feed off that crowd and get them excited.”
But before Bradley gets to Bethpage and finishes honing in on Ryder Cup details, he’ll have to focus on what’s happening inside the ropes, a task that can be difficult but also provides inspiration. Particularly at TPC River Highlands, where Bradley claimed victory in 2023. Can he do it again this year? If he does, he might play his way into some difficult conditions over the next 100 days.
