“Time will tell if that’s a good thing or not”, Rory Mcllroy comments on Keegan Bradley being appointed U.S. Team Captain for Ryder Cup 2025

Luke Donald, the 45-year-old English golfer, will be the European captain for the second consecutive Ryder Cup.

“Time will tell if that’s a good thing or not”, Rory Mcllroy comments on Keegan Bradley being appointed U.S. Team Captain for Ryder Cup 2025

Rory Mcllroy and Keegan Bradley (Image via Independent UK)

Recently, the U.S. team appointed Keegan Bradley as captain for the upcoming Ryder Cup in 2025, just before the Genesis Scottish Open 2024. The announcement of the U.S. team captain has sparked opinions from many professional golfers.

LIV Golfer Phil Mickelson came ahead over Keegan’s appointment the other day. Following this, World No. 2 Rory Mcllroy has expressed his thoughts over the United States’ decision to appoint Keegan Bradley as the captain for the 2025 Ryder Cup.

Yeah, it's an interesting appointment. The youngest captain since Arnold Palmer I think was a playing captain as 34. But he knows Bethpage very well. He went to university in the area. He's obviously very passionate about the Ryder Cup. Yeah, I mean, it's certainly a departure from what the US have done over the last few years, and you know, time will tell if that's a good thing or not.
Rory Mcllroy said, per Golf Monthly

McIlroy hinted that the success of this decision would become evident over time, and that its effectiveness would be judged based on future outcomes.

FS Video

Rory McIlroy then spoke on the challenges of being both a captain and a player in the Ryder Cup. McIlroy pointed out that the roles are mutually exclusive because each requires a significant amount of dedication and focus.

If you want to be the best captain you can be, you can't play. And if you want to be the best player you can be, you can't captain. It's one or the other. Especially with how big the Ryder Cup has become and how many things you have to do in the lead-up to the event, the week of the event.
Rory Mcllroy added

Bradley, 38, will become the youngest U.S. Ryder Cup captain since Arnold Palmer. McIlroy admitted that Bradley’s expertise with the 2025 host venue, Bethpage Black, may be beneficial. However, the four-time major winner feels the choice is a “departure from what the U.S. has done.”

Ryder Cup 2025: Schedule, Captains, and More

The 2025 Ryder Cup will be held at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, New York. It has been scheduled from September 26-28. Luke Donald will captain the European team. He previously led Europe to victory in the 2023 Ryder Cup.

Meanwhile, the United States team will be captained by Keegan Bradley. He has played in the Ryder Cup twice before.

Ryder Cup 2025: Schedule, Captains, and More
Ryder Cup (Image via Ryder Cup Web)

Team Selection

The U.S. team will be composed of the top six players from the points rankings, along with 6 additional captain’s picks. The European team will consist of the top three players from the European Points List, the top three from the World Points List, and six captain’s picks.

The last time Keegan Bradley played in the Ryder Cup was in 2014, when he and Phil Mickelson were benched for the Saturday sessions by then-captain Tom Watson. Bradley made his Ryder Cup debut in 2012, going 3-0 in team play before losing his singles match.

Luke Donald returns as captain of the European team, having led it to victory in 2023. Donald competed in the Ryder Cup four times: in 2004, 2006, 2010, and 2012.

The United States last won the Ryder Cup in 2021, when it defeated Europe 19-9 at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin. Europe won the last two Ryder Cups, in 2018 and 2023.

In case you missed it: