New York, NY. This past Tuesday’s press conference held in Manhattan featured the two captains for the USA and European teams – Keegan Bradley and Luke Donald respectively.
The 47th Ryder Cup matches will be played September 26-28 at Bethpage State Park’s Black Course on Long Island.
The American team is seeking to reclaim the cup after a crushing five-point loss in Rome in 2023.
Interestingly the 38-year-old Bradley secured the captain’s position when two of the heavy favorites for the job — Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods were either ruled ineligible or declined the post.
Donald was selected to lead Europe again after his successful stint at the helm in the last encounter between the two squads in Italy. The 47-year-old Englishman will be the 8th person selected captain for two successive matches – the last coming with Bernard Gallacher (1991-95). Tony Jacklin (1985-87) is the last winning Euro captain for consecutive matches – both home and away.
Several key issues emerged and will be focused upon going forward.
Player eligibility
The ongoing tussle between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf remains active and ever volatile. Both captains stated the desire in having the best players participating in the matches. But the European side is a bit nuanced in that those competing now on the LIV circuit will need to follow amended rules put in place recently.
Donald outlined the process he will follow.
“The DP World Tour’s policies have been very consistent. There’s been a lot of clarity around that. It’s really the same as it was in Rome. You have to be a member of the European Tour and born in Europe. If you fulfill the regulations and the rules that the DP World Tour set, then you’re eligible. There’s a bunch of LIV guys that play on LIV that they are eligible now, so I can pick them at will.”
Among the most noted European players on the LIV circuit now likely to be on hand for the matches at Bethpage include the former world number one and two-time major winner Jon Rahm and the recent winner of the Dunhill Links Championship Englishman Tyrell Hatton.
There has been speculation Sergio Garcia, the all-time leader in Ryder Cup points earned with 28.5, has had a change of heart after resigning his membership with the then European Tour (now DP World Tour). However, Donald was razor-sharp clear on what the Spaniard needs to do in order to be eligible.
“He resigned his membership a couple years ago. But we have had some chats. He’s considering rejoining [the DP World Tour],” said Donald. “He’d have to follow all the rules and regulations like everyone else, and if he does that, again, he will be eligible to partake in the Ryder Cup.”
Bradley’s selection as USA captain was announced July 8 — the latest time frame in doing so in 30 years. The pick surprised the 38-year-old but more importantly provided an inside glimpse on how the brain trust at the PGA of America has evolved its thinking. Not only on the man at the helm of the USA squad but in also amending its previous stance on the status of Americans competing now on the LIV circuit.
Bradley stated his focus will be on having the twelve best players on the USA squad and if those players happen to be from LIV that’s fine with him.
The USA squad did feature a LIV player at the Rome matches – Brooks Koepka.
In sum, the teams are looking to ensure they have the twelve best players competing for the most prestigious team trophy in the sport.
Security and fan behavior
The other pressing concern for the Bethpage matches will be security issues. Past Ryder Cup matches have seen instances in which gallery members have accosted players. At this year’s Traveler’s Championship on the PGA Tour several members from the gallery stormed the 18th green during the final round delaying play.
Bradley addressed the matter squarely at the media conference.
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“When we come play Bethpage in a major championship, you’re ready for this is going to be an atmosphere that we are not normally used to. But I love the New York fans. I’m excited that they are on our side, and I have total faith in them. The PGA of America already has precautions in place if people cross the line.”
Past events at Bethpage —most notably the 2002 US Open — featured gallery members heckling Garcia over the number of club waggles he did before beginning his swing.
With an expected crowd of 50,000 spectators, security precautions will feature both uniform and plain clothes personnel.
“Well, there’s going to be people walking around inside the ropes that are going to be monitoring the situation. It’s really important to us, the US side, that it’s a fair place to play for both teams. Nobody on either team wants this to get uncomfortable or weird out there,” said Bradley.
“But listen, you come into Yankee Stadium; you come into Madison Square Garden; you come into these places, it’s a tough place to play, and Luke and the boys know that. But I have total faith in the fans, and they are going to be loud and they are going to be passionate, and The PGA of America is going to do a great job making sure everything’s right.”
Playing Captaincy
No golfer has served in the dual roles in captaining a side and actually competing since Arnold Palmer for the USA squad at the 1963 matches.
Bradley’s individual competitive play featured a recent win at the BMW Championship several weeks ago — his 7th PGA Tour title.
He is now ranked 14th in the world. Bradley has emphasized that he will only consider playing if he has secured a top six positions which are automatically eligible for the event. He indicated he would not select himself for one of the six captain choices.
“I made a promise to myself that I’m not going to worry about this until the time comes if I do. It’s really difficult to make the American Team every year; you have to go out and really perform.
“Like I said, right now, my focus is on being a captain but I’m still a full-time player. I’m still playing in all the majors and all the big events next year. So I have a real shot at doing this. For now, I’m focusing on my guys and getting them ready to go.”
Bradley explained further how those closest to him in the decision-making chain will be kept updated.
“You know, every vice-captain that I am choosing will know that this is a possibility (Bradley playing). So, they will know what’s going on in that way. I also have John Wood who has come on. But I think my vice captains are all going to be more than capable of doing this, and I hope someday they will all be captains. But again, we’re so far away from that that I’m really focused on being a captain right now.”
Course set-up
The matches will be contested on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park. The mammoth size facility is home to 90 holes of golf.
Owned and operated by the State of New York and open to the public, the Black Course was designed by A.W. Tillinghast with assistance from Parks Superintendent Joseph Burbeck and opened for play in the 1930s.
Generally, the Black is a par-71 but for past significant events the par is reduced to 70. Total length can be stretched to just under 7,500 yards.
The Black is massive in its overall scale and unlike other courses, the routing is a continuous 18 with only the finishing hole returning to the clubhouse.
In 2002, the Bethpage became the first taxpayer-owned facility to host the US Open which was won by Tiger Woods. Seven years later the championship returned and was won by Lucas Glover.
In 2019, Bethpage staged its third major event — the PGA Championship. That event was won by Brooks Koepka. The PGA Tour’s Barclays event was also played there in 2012 and 2016 with wins by Nick Watney and Patrick Reed respectively.
Both Bradley and Donald have competed previously on the Black Course and acclaim its virtues as a true test in golf. Bradley competed at the Black Course when enrolled at St. John’s University in nearby Queens Count.
“The Black is — when you go play the Black, you know it’s going to be a tough test. That’s just Bethpage. Big holes. A lot of drivers. I expect it to play tough like it always does,” said Bradley.
“What’s great about Bethpage is the arena that we’re going to be playing in. So, you know, the holes, especially on back and just the atmosphere Bethpage creates a real environment. So I think it’s going to be exciting no matter how the course setup is, but I anticipate Bethpage playing tough like it always does.
The host side has the wherewithal to make recommendations on how the course will be set-up for the event. In past Ryder Cups, the USA has opted for wider fairway landing areas and extremely fast putting surfaces. This arrangement has benefited the longer hitters on the American side.
Conversely, when Europe has hosted the desire for narrower fairways and much more penal rough with slower greens speeds have been implemented.
Related: The “Finicky” Golfer
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