Phil Mickelson has said that no one he knows has more love and passion for the Ryder Cup than new US team captain, Keegan Bradley and is backing his former teammate to thrive as leader in September 2025.
The 38-year-old from Woodstock, Vermont was selected as the Americans’ skipper for Bethpage Black on Monday – a role he earned after Tiger Woods declined the position previously.
Bradley has only played in two Ryder Cups so far in his career, but when he did so, he was nearly always paired with the legendary left-hander.
Bradley and Mickelson went 3-0 at Medinah in 2012 – a record which included a 7&6 drubbing of Lee Westwood and his now opposite number, Luke Donald – before winning one and losing one from two matches at Gleneagles two years later.
The first and only pairing ever to taste success against Bradley and Mickelson was Victor Dubuisson and Graeme McDowell in a Saturday afternoon foursomes match.
Keegan Bradley last played at a Ryder Cup in 2014 at Gleneagles
(Image credit: Getty Images)
While Lefty went on to feature at two further Ryder cups (2016/2018), Bradley has not been able to regain his place in the US dozen – controversially missing out on the 2023 squad despite winning twice in the build-up.
Yet, in a curious turn of events, the man who phoned Bradley with the bad news last year – Zach Johnson – was actually the one to inform him he would become the new captain.
Reacting to the news that his former playing partner would be the next man to lead Team USA at the Ryder Cup, Mickelson was glowing with pride and stated it was “a great pick” by the PGA of America.
He said: “I was surprised at the pick, and I think it’s a great pick, the more I think about it. 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.”
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Bradley, meanwhile, has said he won’t pick himself if he doesn’t qualify outright and…
..
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Golf Monthly…