Vermont native named 2025 US Ryder Cup captain

Portrait of Alex Abrami Alex Abrami
Burlington Free Press

Vermont's own Keegan Bradley will steer the United States team at the 2025 Ryder Cup.

The PGA of America announced Monday that Bradley, overlooked as a player for last year's team, will serve as captain at the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in New York. The match vs. the Europeans will be played Sept. 26-28, 2025.

"I am incredibly honored to accept this opportunity to captain the United States team at the 2025 Ryder Cup," Bradley said in a media release announcing the news. "I would like to thank the PGA of America Ryder Cup Committee for their trust in me as we embark on this journey to Bethpage Black.

"My passion and appreciation for golf’s greatest team event have never been stronger. The Ryder Cup is unlike any other competition in our sport, and this edition will undoubtedly be particularly special given the rich history and enthusiastic spectators at this iconic course. I look forward to beginning preparations for 2025."

More:Keegan Bradley named 2025 US Ryder Cup captain by PGA of America

Sports Illustrated broke the news earlier Monday, prompting the PGA of America to announce Bradley as the next U.S. captain ahead of its planned news conference on Tuesday.

"I am proud and excited to name Keegan Bradley as captain of the 2025 United States Ryder Cup team," John Lindert, PGA Director of Golf at The Country Club of Lansing, said in the media release. "Keegan’s past Ryder Cup experience, strong relationships and unwavering passion for this event will prove invaluable as he guides the U.S. team over the next year and a half. We are confident that with Keegan at the helm, the 2025 U.S. Ryder Cup team will compete at Bethpage with the same confidence and determination that has defined his career."

The PGA Championship winner in 2011, Bradley owns six career PGA Tour victories, including last year's Travelers Championship, and has played on two Ryder Cup squads, compiling a 4-3-0 record in 2012 and 2014. Bradley, 38, also went 2-2-1 in the 2013 Presidents Cup.

Bradley was a strong choice for a captain's pick at the 2024 Ryder Cup, but Zach Johnson passed over the Woodstock, Vermont, native for the likes of Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas. The U.S. team went on to lose 16½ -11½.

Bradley, the nephew of World Golf Hall of Fame member Pat Bradley, grew up in Woodstock, where he was a standout golfer and all-state Alpine skier before his family moved out of state. In 2004, Bradley won a Massachusetts high school golf state title and then played for St. John's University before turning pro in 2008.

Bradley will be the youngest captain at the Ryder Cup since Arnold Palmer was a playing captain at 34 years old in 1963, according to PGATour.com.

Tiger Woods had been offered the captain's role by PGA of America, but turned it down.

Contact Alex Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter: @aabrami5.