FRISCO, Texas — Keegan Bradley may not have given Donald Trump his wish, but the United States Ryder Cup captain made it clear he’s excited to welcome the president to Bethpage Black in September.
Trump posted on his social media site Saturday night that he’ll attend the Ryder Cup in Farmingdale, N.Y., as the guest of the PGA Tour, repeating a common misconception that the PGA Tour and PGA of America (which owns and operates the Ryder Cup as well as the PGA Championship) are the same organization. In that message, Trump also asserted that he’d like Bradley to be a playing captain. That will not be the case — Bradley chose not to make himself the first playing captain since Arnold Palmer in 1963.
PGA of America CEO Derek Sprague confirmed that the organization invited Trump “a number of weeks ago” and expects him to be in attendance on Sept. 26, although that could change depending on the president’s schedule. The Ryder Cup will be played from Sept. 23-28.
“It’s great to have a sitting president that loves the game of golf, and I think he’ll just help energize the team with this presence there,” Sprague said.
Bradley was made aware of the invitation in advance, Sprague said, and confirmed his support. Bradley called it “really surreal and stunning” to see the president’s post.
“I really appreciate it, Mr. President,” Bradley said to the cameras during a news conference to announce his captain’s picks. “I hope you’re not disappointed. We look forward to seeing you at the Ryder Cup.”
Bradley’s decision about whether or not to play has consumed the golf world in recent months, something that he said surprised even himself.
“That certainly made things — when you see stuff like that, you start to wonder how we got to this point in my life. But I was really honored, deeply honored to have him say that,” Bradley said.
The invitation to Trump is another sign of the thawing relationship between him and the larger golf world. The PGA of America moved the 2022 PGA Championship from Trump Bedminster, his course in New Jersey, in the wake of the Jan. 6, 2021, riot.
While he has been unsuccessful in his promise to broker a deal between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, the former entity announced last week that it is bringing a new event to his golf course in Miami in April 2026.
(Photo: Jasen Vinlove / Imagn Images)
