Keegan Bradley will be given a chance to cut his teeth ahead of taking on the captaincy at next year's Ryder Cup after being handed an opportunity by Jim Furyk.
Bradley was a left-field pick to be the USA captain for Bethpage Black in 14 months' time as they vie to win back the trophy they lost to Rome in Europe last year. Tiger Woods was offered the role but declined due to having other commitments, notably the PGA Tour's merger negotiations with LIV Golf.
The 38-year-old's selection was all the more surprising considering the one-time major champion is the world No. 21 according to the Official World Golf Ranking, meaning he has a strong chance of making the team as a player. He could become the first playing captain in a Ryder Cup since a 34-year-old Arnold Palmer in 1963.
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But the New England native has been given a helping hand by Furyk, who is captain of the USA's Presidents Cup squad that will face an international team at Royal Montreal in late September. Bradley has been named one of four assistant captains alongside Stewart Cink, Justin Leonard and Kevin Kisner for the event, which the Americans have won nine times in succession.
“Keegan is a tremendous competitor with a bulldog mentality and we are looking forward to having his voice in the team room in Montreal,” Furyk said. “He has a strong passion for match play competition and I know he will be an asset to our players in 2024, as well as 2025, as he leads them into Bethpage Black for the 2025 Ryder Cup.
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"I think it would be a great experience. Being in the backroom and sitting down with captains is a totally different experience to the playing side.”
Bradley also has the chance of making the Presidents Cup squad as a player, but he has welcomed the chance to get some leadership experience ahead of the huge challenge of Bethpage Black and Luke Donald's formidable European team next year.
“I was ecstatic to get the call from Jim and looking forward to doing all I can to help our team in Montreal," Bradley said. “With the Ryder Cup on the horizon next year, this will be a great experience for me to understand the other side of the team room and how that camaraderie and coaching helps our guys play their best.”
Furyk admits Bradley's playing aspirations for the Presidents Cup could complicate things, but he believes the assistant captaincy role would benefit him and the team both this year and next.
“He’s playing very well and is ranked pretty well in the world golf rankings,” Furyk said. “So I know he desperately wants to make this team.
“That’s probably first and foremost on his mind as a player but having him as part of the captaincy would be a feather in our cap and would help him for next year.”
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