Keegan Bradley, the U.S. captain for the upcoming Ryder Cup, addressed a misstatement he made during a press conference on Wednesday. On Thursday, he admitted as much. He’d gotten Justin Rose wrong when he should have been talking about Justin Leonard, the American golfer who put in the putt that stole Europe’s heart in the 1999 Ryder Cup. Bradley later said the file upload was an “honest mistake.” He was careful to say that his comments were not intended as a broadside against the U.S. team.
The whole thing went down as Bradley was making what had to be an accidental, portentously prophetic speech that had been written six months before. He thanked one member of the audience for calling out Rose’s name right before he started reading. This small accidental misstep led to incredible debate. It especially looks back at the heritage of American players in the Ryder Cup.
“Somebody yelled out [Justin Rose] right before I read it and said it.” – Keegan Bradley
Bradley even made sure to explain that his comments were about a Ryder Cup held more than 25 years ago. He noted that looking back at history provides context for how Leonard contributed to the team’s success. He made it clear again that his goal was never to insult the current crew or their accomplishments.
More than the comments, attention has been drawn to the financial consequences of holding a Ryder Cup. Each U.S. player will be given $300,000 to direct to the charity of their choice. As part of the Fellowship, they will receive a $200,000 stipend, which they intend to distribute. Unlike Bradley, his players are not legally being given any money for charitable donations or stipends.
Months of preparation as the U.S. team gets ready for this coveted tournament. Captain Keegan Bradley, a Ryder Cup rookie himself, will have to overcome the expectations of these talented players to deliver an experience deserving of the Ryder Cup’s storied legacy. The event is usually seen as an expression of national pride in the game of golf, beyond just financial factors.
Luke Donald, who leads the European team, succinctly captured the essence of the competition when he remarked, “is not about prize money or world ranking points. It’s about pride.” That feeling of excitement is palpable on both sides as they prepare for what will surely be an intensely fought debate.
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