New Ryder Cup U.S. captain Keegan Bradley tells Tiger Woods he can get ‘as involved as he wants to be’
Bradley Shares Insights and Excitement Ahead of Ryder Cup
In recent conversations, golfer Keegan Bradley has shared insights into his upcoming role as Ryder Cup captain. Speaking at last week’s British Open, Bradley revealed his plans and feelings about the prestigious position he has been appointed to. “I’ve told Tiger Woods that I want him to be as involved as he wants to be,” Bradley said, acknowledging the iconic golfer’s potential contribution. “With the British Open taking place right now, we’re not really delving deeply into the specifics of that role. Both of us have our respective jobs to focus on, and I don’t want to distract Tiger with discussions about the Ryder Cup at this moment.”
The Ryder Cup, a biennial men’s golf competition between teams from Europe and the United States, is still 14 months away, allowing Bradley ample time to prepare. Despite the extended timeframe, Bradley is enthusiastic and anticipates a productive lead-up to the event. At 38 years old, Bradley is a seasoned professional, boasting a successful career with six PGA Tour victories, including his notable win at the 2011 PGA Championship. Additionally, his experience includes participation in the Ryder Cup teams of 2012 and 2014.
Bradley was officially named Ryder Cup captain two weeks ago. However, he had been aware of his selection nearly three weeks prior to the announcement, a period that proved to be both exciting and challenging for him. “It has been really great seeing the players,” Bradley commented. “Sitting on the news of being the Ryder Cup captain for almost three weeks without anyone knowing was tough. So, coming out here, interacting with the players, particularly at the British Open last week and then here, has been a therapeutic experience. It’s been rewarding to reconnect with the guys and discuss the upcoming event.”
In a separate but related development, defending champion Lee Hodges is celebrating a personal victory this week. Hodges, who won the previous year’s tournament, feels triumphant simply for making it to the event on time. His sentiment comes in the wake of a significant worldwide tech outage that disrupted travel plans for several competitors. The outage particularly affected players traveling from the Barracuda Championship held in the Lake Tahoe area, creating a ripple effect across the tournament schedules.
Among those impacted by the travel disruptions were golfer Wesley Bryan and the caddie of another player. Faced with the challenge of reaching the event amidst the tech difficulties, Bryan and the caddie opted for an unconventional solution. They rented a vehicle in Salt Lake City, which did not have a one-way return policy, and undertook a grueling 16-hour drive to Blaine, where the tournament was being held. Despite the arduous journey, their commitment and resilience underscored the determination of the players and their support teams as they navigated the logistical hurdles presented by the outage.
Overall, both Bradley’s anticipation for his upcoming role and Hodges’ relief at overcoming travel challenges highlight the dynamic and often unpredictable nature of professional golf. As the Ryder Cup approaches and tournaments continue, the dedication and perseverance of these athletes remain at the forefront of the sport.
