Team USA captain Keegan Bradley got his names jumbled up in an awkward howler at the Ryder Cup opening ceremony. Bradley’s mind may be somewhat scrambled having fended off questions around the controversial pay scheme he and his players are benefitting from.
With the action at Bethpage Black now on the horizon, he got an opportunity to begin his mind games with his speech in the opening ceremony. After Luke Donald took a thinly veiled swipe by having a dig at their pay scheme, Bradley stepped up for his speech.
Things took a bizarre twist when he started lavishing praise on Justin Rose, a key member of Team Europe, by mentioning his crucial putt at Brookline in the 1999 Ryder Cup. Unfortunately for Bradley, he was supposed to refer to American golf legend Justin Leonard, particularly as Rose was not even competing in Brookline, Massachusetts, and is also not even American.
Bradley said: “That was the moment golf stopped being a game and started being a calling. That day changed my life,” before confusing Rose with Leonard.
The USA skipper did not appear to notice his error, but the members of Team Europe did, as they all turned round to look at a baffled Rose, who was trying not to laugh.
