Keegan Bradley makes first Ryder Cup move, keeps promise
Keegan Bradley, who was announced as U.S. Ryder Cup captain two weeks ago, just announced his first move in creating his team for Bethpage.
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Keegan Bradley fulfilled a promise when the surprise U.S. Ryder Cup captain announced the first member of his team.
“I’m going to take a fresh look at vice captains,” Bradley said at his introductory press conference on July 9. “They’re going to be a lot younger, closer to playing.”
On Tuesday, Webb Simpson was named as one of Bradley’s vice captains for the 2025 event at Bethpage Black in New York. He’s the first of what will likely be five vice captains on the team.
At 38 years old, Simpson is the same age as Bradley. Last year, U.S. captain Zach Johnson was 47 years old when the event was played. The average age of his five vice captains in Rome — Steve Stricker, Davis Love III, Jim Furyk, Fred Couples and Stewart Cink — was 56.
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“Webb is someone who I have long admired and respected as a competitor and friend,” Bradley said. “He possesses a wealth of team golf experience and knows what it takes to win. Webb will be a valuable member of our leadership team and a trusted resource for me as we prepare for Bethpage Black next September.”
Simpson, who has won seven times on the PGA Tour (including the 2012 U.S. Open), played in three Ryder Cups (2012, 2014, 2018) and compiled a 4-4-1 career record. He was also a member of Presidents Cup teams in 2011, 2013 and 2019.
This is Simpson’s first time as a vice captain.
“I am honored to be chosen by Keegan to serve as a vice captain in 2025,” Simpson said. “Competing in three Ryder Cups will forever be among my career highlights. I have no doubt that Keegan will be a fantastic captain and a tremendous leader, and could not be more excited to get to work as we seek to reclaim the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black.”
Bradley was seen as a surprise captain’s pick, and the job became his when Tiger Woods said he wasn’t interested in the gig this year. While Bradley might bring some new, youthful energy to the squad, he’s never been a vice captain or captain before. At his initial press conference two weeks ago, however, he said he wasn’t worried about the lack of experience.
“I think that I’m going to be out there with the guys. I’m going to be playing in the same tournaments they’re going to be playing in. I’m going to be playing in majors with them,” he said. “I’m going to be playing week-to-week, I’ll be alongside these guys in the locker room, practice rounds, dinner. As opposed to in the past with the Ryder Cup they got to fly in, they got to schedule all these things and I’m going to have a year of being with the guys as a peer.
“It’s a great honor that my peers chose me to do this,” he continued, “and, you know, I don’t have the experience that a lot of the other captains had, but I know these guys really well. I’m connected to these guys and I see them week-to-week.”
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