Brandon Robinson-Thompson has made waves on both sides of the Atlantic, but when it comes to golf’s greatest team event, he’s happy to swim against the tide. The Englishman talks highs, lows, near-death encounters, and why a major win beats Ryder Cup glory.
Many of golf’s biggest stars describe the Ryder Cup as the pinnacle of their career – with many even deeming it more important than major championships. “This is what I live for,” said Shane Lowry ahead of the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage.
The passion, the atmosphere, the sight of normally reserved golfers suddenly thumping their chests like Premier League strikers – it all makes the Ryder Cup the highlight of the golfing calendar.
But one of Europe’s most in-form golfers, Brandon Robinson-Thompson, doesn’t quite see it that way. The 33-year-old Englishman sat down with TG to discuss the highs, lows, and near-death moments of his career so far – including why, for him, the Ryder Cup might be a little overrated…
What’s been your most memorable day on the course?
My granddad and brother were able to come watch me play in my first British Open. I can remember walking onto the first tee, seeing them, and being a bit overwhelmed.
But I also got to share my first win on the Challenge Tour with my wife on the bag.
What about the hardest?
I played in Denmark last year on the DP World Tour and those were some of the hardest conditions. It was raining and the umbrella was horizontal with the wind. I had 150 yards into a green, hit a 6-iron, and came up 15 yards short of the green. I finished 14th and I didn’t shoot over par that day, which was pretty mad.
What’s your wildest caddie story?
I don’t know if my wife’s going to like this, but at the Grand Final last year on the Challenge Tour, I was like 14th in the rankings, knowing the top 20 get their card. We get to the final round and I’m like two over through six. Now I’m 18th and my missus has just said something after I made bogey. I couldn’t quite hear what it was, but I could tell she was a bit anxious. I was like, “What did you say?” And she just kept going, “Don’t worry about it.” But I could tell it was bothering her, so I kept saying, “What’s going on?” Eventually, she turned to me and said, “I’m just worried you’re not going to make it. You need to play better!”
As wild as it sounds, it was quite refreshing to hear that. It helped me to relax, in a strange way. We had a really good time after that and I got my card.
When was the last time you were starstruck?
At the US Open last year, I met Tiger Woods. I was on one of the shuttles at Pinehurst coming back from the 10th tee. He was 50 yards ahead of me so I was like, I’m going to get off and just be in his presence.
I mean, he doesn’t look real. He’s like a waxwork. As you can imagine, there were thousands of people yelling and screaming. And I’ve got close enough where I can say something and I’ve gone, “Tiger, is that [screaming] for you or me?” He just started laughing. We ended up walking side by side, so that was surreal.
What’s the oldest or coolest piece of golfing memorabilia you own?
Now I’m on tour, I’m not sure I should share it, but I do own a tee marker from the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.
I can’t tell you how I got it, but I can tell you that Colin Montgomerie, Ernie Els, Luke Donald, and Padraig Harrington all signed it. I was about 15.
When did you last break a golf club?
I’ve only done it once in my whole life, but never in anger. I must have been 12 or 13 and me and my mate were out ball hunting in a field. We had a club-throwing competition and mine had a graphite shaft. I just helicoptered it and it shattered. I remember being so upset, because I knew I wouldn’t have a club for a month. I didn’t know how I was going to tell my granddad. So I haven’t broken one since.
What has been your closest brush with death?
I nearly went into a swamp one time, driving at 1am in Florida. I ran over like an eight-foot alligator in the middle of the road and I just took off in my car.
I somehow managed to stop it from going down into this massive swamp.
Where’s your favourite place to play golf?
Aiken in South Carolina. It’s 15 minutes from Augusta and it’s where I went to university. And there are some absolute gems.
Palmetto Golf Club is probably the one and if I could only play one golf course for the rest of my life, that would be my pick. It’s just a pure golf club, not a country club.
Which course in Europe would you like to see stage the Ryder Cup next?
Despite my Euro side, I’ve spent the last 10 years in America. I’d like to see it somewhere local, like The Belfry again. But then again, why couldn’t we have it somewhere incredible like Kingsbarns?
What would you prefer to do: Win a Major or hole the winning putt in the Ryder Cup?
Win a Major. This is a hot take, but I think the Ryder Cup is overrated. It’s cool, don’t get me wrong, but come on…
