It seems like all anyone can talk about at the 2025 Tour Championship is if Keegan Bradley should play on the U.S. Ryder Cup team in addition to captain it. Even Bradley has opened up about his agonizing dilemma. Now a new figure is weighing in on the quandary: President Donald Trump.
Trump took to social media on Saturday to enthusiastically, though confusingly, give his opinion on whether Bradley should be a playing captain for the American team.
Trump: Bradley should ‘DEFINITELY’ be on Ryder Cup team as ‘Captain’
Trump is an avid golfer and owner of numerous golf clubs around the world. Two clubs he owns previously held pro golf tournaments before he was owner. Trump Turnberry hosted several Open Championships and Trump Doral a PGA Tour event for many years.
His Trump Bedminster course in New Jersey was initially pegged to host the 2022 PGA Championship, but the PGA of America voted to rescind that honor following the U.S. Capitol riots on January 6, 2021.
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This week, the PGA Tour announced its return to Trump Doral for the 2026 Miami Championship, a new Signature Event.
His involvement in the game doesn’t end there. Trump made an appearance at the 2017 Presidents Cup during his first term, watching the Americans defeat the International side.
But on Saturday morning, a different team event was on the president’s mind: the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black.
Amid the controversy over Bradley potentially picking himself as one of his six captain’s picks, Trump posted his opinion on the matter to Truth Social.
Trump wrote: “Keegan Bradley should DEFINITELY be on the American Ryder Cup Team – As Captain!!! He is an AMAZING guy. It will be a great Ryder Cup. At the invite of the PGA Tour, I will be there on Tournament Friday!!! President DJT”
While it’s clear Trump supports Bradley’s involvement on the team, it’s unclear from his wording if he thinks Bradley should be a playing captain. While he wrote that Bradley should “DEFINITELY” be on the American team, he added “As Captain!!!”
In addition to that, Trump announced that he would attend Friday’s opening day of this year’s Ryder Cup, which is sure to cause a stir at Bethpage. The Ryder Cup is operated jointly by Ryder Cup Europe and the PGA of America, not the PGA Tour.
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Keegan Bradley’s Ryder Cup conundrum
Bradley was tapped to be captain of the U.S. Ryder Cup team more than a year ago. But ever since then, another question loomed: would he play on the team too?
At 39, Bradley is in the prime of his career and among the best American players alive. He won the 2025 Travelers Championship this season and is ranked 13th in the Official World Golf Ranking.
‘Biggest decision of my life’: Keegan Bradley agonizes over his Ryder Cup fate
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Kevin Cunningham
However, Bradley failed to automatically qualify for the U.S. team. The only way he can play is by using one of his captain’s picks on himself.
The U.S. captain detailed how much he was struggling with the decision on Friday at the Tour Championship, calling it the “biggest decision of my life.”
“You worry that people maybe on my side will say, if you don’t win, that was a mistake. That was self-indulgent. I’m very well aware of that. No matter what decision I make, I’m going to be defined by this decision. If we win, it doesn’t matter what decision I make,” Bradley said. “But every captain has to make really tough decisions. This is just a really unique decision. I think it’s just because of my age. If Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson or Jim Furyk was appointed captain at my age, they would’ve had to do this. So, it’s just a luck of the draw, I guess. I don’t know.”
Fortunately for Bradley, his play at the Tour Championship could make his decision a whole lot easier. Heading into Sunday’s final round, Bradley is in fourth place, just three shots behind the co-leaders.
