Keegan Bradley’s loyalties may lie with the PGA Tour, but the United States Ryder Cup captain had some kind words for LIV Golf, which will be music to the ears of some of the league’s membersThis article contains affiliate links, which means we will receive commission on any sale of products or services we write. Learn more
Keegan Bradley will lead Team USA(Image: Getty Images)
Keegan Bradley has admitted there is no bad blood between him and the LIV Golf setup, as the deadline to pick his United States Ryder Cup team grows closer.
Bradley will lead Team USA at Bethpage Black in September, two years after losing their title to the Europeans at Marco Simone in Rome. When making the trip to Europe, Zach Johnson’s team included just one LIV player, with Brooks Koepka hard to ignore after winning the PGA Championship.
This time around, though, there could well be more LIV representation, with captain Bradley previously admitting he will have the best 12 available players, regardless of what tour they play.
The split between the two circuits has been well documented in recent years, but when it comes to Bradley, he has mutual respect for both. “I have no ill will towards any of them, and I root for them every week,” Bradley told the Subpar Podcast over the Saudi-backed league.
LIV has faced criticism from its PGA Tour critics over the intensity of its 54-hole, no-cut events. The U.S. captain, however, believes it is just as hard to win on the breakaway circuit as any tour. “I think they’re both difficult. Both fields are incredible,” Bradley commented.
“I think any level that you’re at, any tournament that you’re out with professionals is difficult.” Bradley’s respect for the league will be music to the ears of a number of hopefuls looking to make the American team, including 2023 member Koepka.
Brooks Koepka competed in 2023(Image: Getty)
With Ryder Cup points not on offer at LIV events, Koepka and co are reliant on either strong showings on the major championship stage, or relying on one of the six captain’s picks. One man who is looking to return to the U.S. team is Bryson DeChambeau, who missed the trip to Italy last time around.
Since then, though, DeChambeau has become one of the game’s in-form players, winning the U.S. Open for a second time at Pinehurst No. 2 last June. He pipped Rory McIlroy to the crown in North Carolina, and the pair renewed their rivalry at this month’s Masters.
This time around however, it was McIlroy who prevailed, seeing off DeChambeau early on in the final round at Augusta National, before beating fellow European Justin Rose in a playoff. Despite missing out on the green jacket, the LIV man did his Ryder Cup chances the world of good.
A finish in a tie for fifth banked him some much-needed points in the race to make Bradley’s team automatically, with DeChambeau currently fourth in the list with three major appearances to come later this summer.
