Keegan Bradley Reflects On Landmark 2025 Season
Imagine having one of the best statistical years of your professional career. You win a prestigious event like the Travelers Championship, you climb back into the top tier of the World Rankings, and you even pocket a nice check winning a high-profile Skins Game against the likes of Xander Schauffele and Rory McIlroy. Keegan Bradley did not look back on this season fondly.
When asked to grade his 2025 season ahead of the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas, he didn’t mince words. He gave himself a flat “F.” It is a harsh assessment, but for Bradley, the individual accolades don’t hold a candle to the crushing weight of what happened at Bethpage Black.
Why Bradley Can’t Shake the Ryder Cup Loss
If you’re looking for the happiest guy on tour, you might want to look elsewhere right now. Despite his resurgence inside the ropes, Bradley is still reeling from his stint as the U.S. Ryder Cup captain. The loss to Europe wasn’t just a defeat; he called it the “darkest time” of his life.
“You’ve got to go and win that, and this grade’s different,” Bradley said. His coach even tried to remind him that he, you know, actually won a tournament this year. Bradley’s response? “I don’t remember that at all.”
It is the sports equivalent of getting a promotion at work on the same day you total your car. The bad creates a “gaping hole” that swallows up the good. For a guy who wears his heart on his sleeve and arguably cares more about the Ryder Cup than anyone else in the modern era, the hangover from that loss is brutal. He admits he’s finally starting to feel like himself again, but the scar tissue is undeniably thick.
Bradley Shields the Crew from Justin Thomas’ Comments
To make matters stickier, the post-mortem of the Ryder Cup hasn’t exactly been quiet. Justin Thomas recently went on a podcast and aired some grievances about the setup at Bethpage, specifically claiming the grounds crew fought the team on green speeds. JT argued the greens were too slow, essentially hinting that the home-field advantage was botched by the staff.
Bradley, however, wasn’t about to let the grounds crew take the fall. In a move that shows why he was picked as a leader in the first place, he stepped in front of the bus.
“Blame me. I blame myself for that loss,” Bradley said, shutting down the idea that the grass height was the culprit. He noted that the Europeans simply played better, and while it would be nice to have a scapegoat, he isn’t willing to point fingers at anyone but himself.
Will We See Captain Bradley Again?
The tragedy of Bradley’s “F” grade is that he knows he might never get a chance to fix it. Unlike blowing a lead at the Masters, where you can grind all year to get back to Augusta, the captaincy isn’t something you earn through practice reps. It is appointed.
Bradley was candid about wanting a shot at redemption. “I would love to avenge that loss,” he said. But he’s also a realist. With the 2027 match heading to Adare Manor in Ireland, the shadow of Tiger Woods looms large.
When asked about the next captain, Bradley deferred to the G.O.A.T. immediately. “If Tiger wants to do this, he’s going to do it,” Bradley said. Woods, in typical fashion, played it coy this week, claiming “no one has asked” him yet. But let’s be real—if Tiger picks up the phone, the job is his.
For now, Bradley is left with his “F” grade and a whole lot of motivation to make the next team as a player. If he keeps playing as he did in 2025, he’ll be there—hopefully with a slightly better report card.
