Keegan Bradley will be introduced during a noon ET press conference today at the NASDAQ building in N.Y.Michael Reaves/Getty Images
The PGA of America is going "off recent protocol with a unique choice" for U.S. Ryder Cup Captain for next year's event in Keegan Bradley after Tiger Woods "turned down" the role, according to Bob Harig of SI. Woods was “seemingly the only choice of the PGA of America for months” and he “fit the mold based on recent experience.” But Woods “apparently turned down the job" around the time that former PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh announced late last month that he would
not be staying on past the expiration of his contract on June 30. Woods had said on several occasions that he was "unprepared to make a decision on the role due to his duties as a player director on the PGA Tour policy board” (
SI, 7/8). THE ATHLETIC’s Gabby Herzig notes previous decisions for U.S. squad leadership required captains to “serve as assistants prior to being appointed to the top role,” forming a "de facto 'task force' of PGA Tour veterans waiting to get the nod.” Sources indicated the Bradley’s captaincy “marks a shift in the U.S. team’s leadership strategy” and an “acknowledgment of the growing youth movement on the PGA Tour” (
THE ATHLETIC, 7/8).
THE END RESULT: Sportswriter Geoff Shackelford writes Woods “slow-played a decision” regarding the captaincy “awaiting PGA of America politics to play out.” But Waugh’s decision to step down June 30 meant Woods “lost an ally in the building who would excuse Woods for passing up marketing and partner appearances required of the Captain all while juggling his PGA Tour board duties.” How “all of the Frisco intrigue went down is unclear and may never be known,” but the PGA of America board “ratifies the selection of a Ryder Cup subcommittee” which was once helmed by Waugh. In picking Bradley, the PGA of America has “struck a massive, perhaps fatal blow against the Task Force formed after Tom Watson’s unsuccessful 2014 captaincy." The “intrigue surrounding Woods’ lack of desire to lead the team at Bethpage will continue to center around Waugh’s departure” and “may linger over Bradley’s captaincy” (THE QUADRILATERAL, 7/8). Barstool Sports' Dan Rapaport writes if “Tiger wasn’t going to be all-in for a New York Ryder Cup there wasn’t a natural next guy” (X, 7/8).
