Keegan Bradley said LIV golfers will be considered for the 2025 Ryder Cup team
New U.S. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley made it clear he doesn’t expect former teammate Phil Mickelson to play in the next tournament. While Mickelson has contributed to Ryder Cups thus far, Bradley stressed that the mission to win the tournament doesn’t exclude LIV golfers. Bradley was touted as “2025…”
New US Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley made it clear that he doesn’t expect his former teammate Phil Mickelson to play in the next tournament. While Mickelson has contributed to the Ryder Cup thus far, Bradley stressed that the mission to win the tournament doesn’t exclude LIV Golf players.
Bradley, who was introduced as the 2025 U.S. Ryder Cup captain on Tuesday, spoke warmly of his experiences with Mickelson in previous Ryder Cups. However, he does not foresee Mickelson, a 12-time participant, joining his vice-captain lineup for the event at Bethpage Black next year. “I still have a great relationship with Phil,” Bradley said. “I don’t think he’s interested in being vice-captain. Honestly, he is ever a captain. I did not talk to Phil. I don’t want to speak for him at all. I have nothing but great things to say about Phil and what we did at the Ryder Cup.
Mickelson, 54, was once seen as the natural choice for Bethpage’s U.S. Ryder Cup captaincy, an appointment that seemed certain until his controversial move to LIV Golf. Over the past year, Mickelson has expressed satisfaction with how things have gone and looked back fondly on his Ryder Cup experiences, including serving as vice-captain under Steve Stricker in 2021.
Bradley, who is close friends with Brendan Steele, a member of Mickelson’s HyFlyers LIV Golf team, dismissed any concerns about the inclusion of LIV Golf players in his squad. “I’m going to have 12 of the best players on my team,” he said. “I don’t care where they play. We are responsible for winning this tournament. I am not worried about Arashi. When we get to Bethpage in 2025, we have no idea what the layout will be.
Bradley and Mickelson have already enjoyed notable success as partners, going 3-0 at the 2012 Ryder Cup and 1-1 in 2014, as well as 2-1-1 at the 2013 Presidents Cup. With Mickelson likely absent as vice-captain, Bradley remains focused on building the best team possible, regardless of affiliation.