In a stunning revelation that has caught the golfing world off guard, Keegan Bradley, the recently appointed captain of the U.S. Ryder Cup team, has opened up about a significant regret stemming from the 2023 Ryder Cup held at the iconic Bethpage Black course. Despite a valiant effort from his squad, which saw them mounting an impressive comeback before ultimately losing 15-13 to a formidable European team, it was not a player decision or strategy that haunted Bradley, but rather the course setup prior to the event.
As the dust settled on a thrilling weekend of competition, Bradley was candid when asked if he would change anything about his approach. Golf enthusiasts might expect him to criticize a pairing gone wrong, such as the ill-fated collaboration between Collin Morikawa and Harris English, but instead, he pointed to the very foundation of the tournament—the golf course itself. “I think I would have set the course up a little different,” he remarked, acknowledging the impact of the course’s condition on his team’s performance. In a moment of humility, he emphasized the European team’s superiority, praising Luke Donald as the greatest Ryder Cup captain in history.
The U.S. team’s choice to shorten the rough in a bid to favor their long-hitting style was a strategic move that has been in vogue among American captains since 1957. Bradley’s decision was informed by a desire to create a challenging yet fair environment at a course renowned for its difficulty, having hosted multiple U.S. Opens. However, the conditions turned out to be far from what he had envisioned. Heavy rain leading up to the event transformed the Bethpage Black into a veritable birdie factory, with soft greens and manageable rough that played into the hands of the European squad.
Bradley was frank in his assessment, stating, “Oh, man, the greens are not where we wanted. They are super soft.” He lamented the uncharacteristic softness of the greens, which he had never seen at Bethpage before, stating that players could often find themselves better positioned from the rough than from the putting surface. With each chip shot seemingly spinning back away from the hole, the intricacies of course management became glaringly apparent.
In his reflection on the course setup, Bradley admitted, “We tried to set the course up to help our team. Obviously it wasn’t the right decision.” His leadership role compelled him to shoulder the blame, acknowledging that he should have trusted his instincts more. The agreement governing the Ryder Cup’s course setup stipulates that the home captain has influence only until the Sunday before the tournament commences, after which the Match Committee takes the reins. This limitation adds a layer of complexity, as any adjustments to the course’s conditions fall outside the captain’s control once the event begins.
The burning question now lingers: Would a different course setup have altered the outcome of the matches? While we may never know the answer, what is clear is that Bradley’s introspection and candidness about his decisions offer a glimpse into the pressures faced by Ryder Cup captains. As the golfing community moves forward, all eyes will be on the next Ryder Cup, with fans eager to see how lessons learned from this year’s competition might shape future strategies.
