Ryder Cup captain visits Bethpage Black
The U.S. team will try to take back the Ryder Cup after losing it two years ago in Italy.
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Keegan Bradley said he was told life at the USA Ryder Cup captain would be stressful.
The job requires a long commitment.
Tough choices would have to be made. He'd have to be the bad guy at times. But Bradley said that's not been the case.
"It's been really fun. I've enjoyed every second of it," said Bradley, as he stood near the first tee at Bethpage Black Monday decked out in his newly unveiled Ralph Lauren-designed Team USA Ryder Cup uniform.
The Ryder Cup starts Sept. 26 at Bethpage Black, a course Bradley played at a lot during his time with the St. John's University golf team.
"Bethpage has always been an incredible venue to play in. But when you turn it into a team environment it's going to be spectacular," he said.
The Ryder Cup will put Team USA against Team Europe in a three-day event. Bradley is assembling the team. Six players have already made the cut based on points accrued over the past year.
Bradley will make six more "captain's picks" next week to fill out the team. Based on points, he could be one of those picks.
If so, he'd be the first Team USA captain/player since Arnold Palmer in 1963.
"We have it kind of whittled down to a group of guys, and I’m in that conversation. But ultimately, we have to decide what’s best for the team and what’s best for us winning the Ryder Cup here at Bethpage. We’re going to all sit down, the vice captains and the top six, and figure out what’s the best course of action," said Bradley.
The U.S. team will try to take back the Ryder Cup after losing it two years ago in Italy.
Bradley was not picked for that team.
He currently stands 11th in Ryder Cup points.
He said having a chance to be a captain and player is a weird spot to be in.
"There's no one to talk to about this....there's no blueprint here. We have a lot to decide in the next week," said Bradley.
As Bradley spoke workers were setting up what would be the grandstands surrounding the first and 18th holes. He said that will provide a unique atmosphere at the course and one of the loudest areas on the course, too.
"I’m very aware of how special this place is to New Yorkers and I’m very aware of what America means to New Yorkers,” Bradley said. “You combine those two at a venue like this, you’re going to have some rowdy fans. We want them to cheer for us. We want them to be passionate and cheer for the home team.”
