Captain Keegan, Round Two?
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3 MIN READ

December 2, 2025

Captain Keegan, Round Two?

Keegan Bradley called the months following Bethpage Black the "darkest time of my life." But would he welcome the opportunity for round two?

By

&

Riley Hamel

Keegan Bradley hasn’t shied away from speaking the truth about his Ryder Cup loss. That continued Tuesday during his pre-tournament press conference in Albany, Bahamas.

The Skins Game winner is one of 20 players teeing it up in this week’s Hero World Challenge, and he was asked about the emotional toll Team USA’s failure at Bethpage Black has had on him

“The darkest time of my life, probably,” Bradley said. “I mean, I don't know how else to describe it. Certainly, definitely of my career…it just was a tough time. Still is.”

But as he’s gotten back into practice, back into preparing for events like The Skins Game and the Hero, he’s been feeling more like himself.

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When asked to grade his season, one that included a second Travelers Championship title, he called it one of the best of his career. Despite that, he gave himself a failing mark.

“But when you factor in losing the Ryder Cup, I mean, it's an F,” Bradley said. “Without—you've got to go and win that and this grade's different. It's really tough to grade. I was talking to my coach, he said, ‘Remember, you won this year.’ I was like, ‘No, I don't remember that at all.’”

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Even with the scar tissue, even with the devastation, Bradley would love to do it again.

“I have this, like, gaping hole in my career now that I don't know that I'll ever be able to fill. This isn't something that you lose the Masters, you lose a tournament, I'm going to work extra hard to get back and win.

“Being the captain of the Ryder Cup team is not something you can work hard for; it's just something that's sort of elected on you…Of course I would love to do it again, I would love to avenge that loss, but that's not up to me.

“But I would love to do it again at some point. I don't know if that will ever happen, probably won't. I think if you ask any losing captain if they would like to do it again, they would all want another shot.”

Something that’s never been done is within reach for Bradley, however. He could become the first player to serve as captain, then come back and make the team as a player, something he said he’d “love to do.”

We’ll see what the next few years have in store for the 39-year-old, but if he continues to play like he did in 2025, I expect him to don red, white, and blue at Adare Manor.

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