Phil Mickelson praised Keegan Bradley (Image: Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Keegan Bradley was announced as the USA’s Ryder Cup captain for the 2025 event at Bethpage Black, and he will not extend an invite to Phil Mickelson to be a vice-captain
Phil Mickelson heaped praise on Keegan Bradley’s selection as Team USA captain for the 2025 Ryder Cup, despite being snubbed for any role in the upcoming showdown.
The golfing world was abuzz when the PGA of America named Bradley to steer the American team against Europe at Bethpage Black come next September. Following his appointment, Bradley took center stage at a New York press conference, where he shared that, although he and Mickelson remain tight, there’s no spot for Phil as a vice-captain in the 2025 lineup.
Bradley said: “I still have a great relationship with Phil,” but quickly added, “I don’t think he’s interested in being a vice-captain, and to be honest with you, he’s a captain someday I think. But I haven’t spoken to Phil, I don’t want to speak for him at all, but I think he’s pretty busy with what he’s doing.”
Phil Mickelson, not one to hold back, chimed in a day later with nothing but accolades for Bradley, calling the new captain “incredible.” “I was surprised at the pick, and I think it’s a great pick the more I think about it,” Mickelson said ahead of this week’s LIV Golf event at Valderrama.
“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.” There was good news for Mickelson’s fellow LIV members though, after Bradley confirmed he would consider all of his options, regardless of what tour they player their golf on.
“I’m going to have the 12 best players on the team. I don’t care where they play,” Bradley claimed. “We have a mission to win this tournament and I don’t care about the LIV stuff. I want the best players on the team. By the time we get to Bethpage in 2025, we don’t know how things are going to look.
“As it comes to going to LIV events, if there’s guys that are on the fringe, I’m willing to do that,” he said. “My biggest concern is having the best players on the team.” Keen to stay out of the off-course politics, he went on: “Again, I think in 2025, by the time the Ryder Cup comes, maybe the golf world looks totally different. I just want the best players on the team. I think it’s silly for the U.S. team to not have the best players.”
