Keegan Bradley is setting his sights on a return to Team USA as a player for the 2027 Ryder Cup, nearly a year after captaining the squad to a historic home defeat. Speaking ahead of the PGA Championship, the 40-year-old admitted the loss at Bethpage Black still lingers, but he's finally 'starting to feel better' about the legacy of that defeat. Bradley's candid remarks come as he prepares for this week's major, where he hopes to rediscover the form that made him a major champion.
The 2025 Ryder Cup saw Team USA fall 15-13 to Europe at Bethpage Black, marking the first home loss for either side since 2012. Bradley, who was appointed captain after being overlooked as a player for the 2023 edition in Rome, shouldered the weight of that defeat heavily. In March, he revealed he was still 'heartbroken' from the loss, but now he's beginning to separate himself from the disappointment. 'I'm starting to feel more like myself,' Bradley said. 'Getting back out here and getting in the routine, I'm playing some better golf.'
Bradley's journey with the Ryder Cup has been fraught with frustration. He played on losing teams in 2012 and 2014, narrowly missed a captain's pick for Rome, and then chose not to select himself for the Bethpage squad. Despite the pain, he's now eyeing a shot at redemption as a player under new captain Jim Furyk for the 2027 contest at Adare Manor in Ireland. 'I'd really love to play for Jim Furyk, who is an idol of mine, but also become a great friend and mentor,' Bradley said. 'Getting to know the guys on the team last year changed my life. Changed who I am as a person.'
The 2027 Ryder Cup will be held at Adare Manor, a course that has hosted the Irish Open and is set to be a stern test for both sides. Bradley, who turns 41 that year, acknowledges the challenge but sees a poetic narrative in making the team. 'What a cool story it would be. How fun would that be?' he mused. 'The Ryder Cup has just been so brutal to me in every way, but I'd really like to make that team.'
Bradley's recent form has dipped since the Ryder Cup, with no finishes higher than 12th in 12 worldwide starts, dropping him outside the world's top 30. Yet his mindset is shifting. 'I'm starting to feel better,' he insisted. 'The last couple months, I've started to feel more like myself. Sometimes I'm a little too honest with how I'm feeling, but it's helped me move on.' He added that driving down the road, thoughts of the loss still pop up, but playing more tournaments and contending at majors should help push those memories further into the distance.
This week's PGA Championship is being held at the venue where Bradley snapped a six-year winless drought in 2018, beating Justin Rose in a playoff at the BMW Championship. It's also the 15th anniversary of his PGA Championship victory, making it a sentimental return. 'When we played here last time, it was so wet,' he recalled. 'It's totally different now. They've added yardage to the finishing holes, making them even harder.' Bradley praised the PGA for its flexible setup, contrasting it with the US Open's relentless difficulty.
The implications of Bradley's potential return are significant for Team USA. His leadership experience could prove invaluable in the cauldron of a European venue, and his determination to play under Furyk adds an emotional layer to the preparation. If he qualifies, he'd become one of the oldest American players in recent memory, but his resilience and course knowledge could be assets.
As Bradley tees it up at the PGA Championship, live on Sky Sports, his focus is split between this week's major and a longer-term goal. The road to Adare Manor is long, but his words signal a man ready to redefine his Ryder Cup legacy. Whether as a captain or a player, Bradley's commitment to the team remains unwavering.
Based on reporting from Sky Sports.