Bradley Accepts Responsibility for Ryder Cup Loss
FARMINGDALE, N.Y. — U.S. captain Keegan Bradley has taken the blame for his team’s 15-13 defeat against Europe in the 45th Ryder Cup, acknowledging that he made an error in the course setup at Bethpage Black.
Course Setup Decisions
Hoping to leverage an advantage in driving distance, the rough around the fairways was not as formidable as usual. Heavy rain on Thursday had softened the greens, causing many U.S. players to struggle with their approach shots.
Reflection on Strategy
“We believed this was the optimal course setup for victory,” Bradley remarked. “In hindsight, I recognize that I would make different choices. However, the Europeans played exceptionally well—sometimes, course setup is irrelevant when facing such strong competition.”
Near-Historic Comeback
Despite losing the first four sessions and entering the final round down by seven points, the Americans nearly achieved the greatest comeback in Ryder Cup history by winning 8.5 of 11 singles points.
Learning from Experience
As the youngest U.S. Ryder Cup captain since 1963, Bradley was chosen unexpectedly after Tiger Woods declined the position. Reflecting on his captaincy, he expressed doubts about whether a thicker rough and firmer greens might have helped his team.
Thoughts on Future Leadership
Bradley mentioned, “The aim was to bring a new perspective to the captaincy. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out, but I believe we can maintain our momentum moving forward.” He remains hopeful about the potential of future U.S. teams and emphasized learning from this experience.
Final Impressions
In concluding remarks, Bradley admitted he hasn’t had enough time to reflect on his choices or offer advice to future captains. He emphasized his appreciation for the journey and the camaraderie with his team, which drew positive responses during the post-Ryder Cup news conference.
