Keegan Bradley has been appointed as the U.S. Ryder Cup captain for the 2025 matches at Bethpage Black in New York, following Tiger Woods’ decision to decline the role. The PGA of America made the announcement on Instagram after Bradley’s selection began circulating earlier in the day. This marks Bradley’s first time leading a Ryder Cup team, having played on only two previous teams without any assistant captain experience.

At 38, Bradley will be the youngest American captain since Arnold Palmer in 1963. His appointment comes after months of negotiations with Woods, who was the Ryder Cup committee’s first choice. Woods, who plays a limited schedule and is heavily involved with PGA Tour Enterprises, cited his inability to fully commit to the captaincy duties due to his other responsibilities.

Bradley, a New England native and former St. John’s University golfer, is known for his six PGA Tour victories, including the 2011 PGA Championship. Despite a strong season last year, Bradley was overlooked for the 2023 Ryder Cup team, which left him determined to contribute to future U.S. successes.

PGA of America President John Lindert expressed confidence in Bradley, highlighting his passion and relationships within the sport as invaluable assets for the upcoming competition. Bradley’s Ryder Cup history includes his debut at Medinah in 2012, where he teamed with Phil Mickelson and went 3-0 before losing to Rory McIlroy in singles. His last Ryder Cup appearance was in 2014 at Gleneagles, where he was benched by captain Tom Watson for both Saturday sessions.

The selection of Bradley deviates from the typical profile of Ryder Cup captains, who are usually players just past their prime and often serve as assistant captains first. This change raises questions about whether immediate past captains, such as Zach Johnson, will continue to serve as assistants in future matches.

Bradley’s appointment was reportedly delayed due to the protracted process of selecting Woods and then moving on to other candidates. Initially, Phil Mickelson was a favorite for the role due to his popularity at Bethpage Black, but his involvement with the rival LIV Golf league made him a controversial choice.

Bradley is already preparing for his new role with a media training session in New York and will be formally introduced at a press conference. He expressed his excitement, stating, “The Ryder Cup is unlike any other competition in our sport, and this edition will undoubtedly be particularly special given the rich history and enthusiastic spectators at this iconic course.”