At 42, Keegan Bradley became the youngest captain of the U.S. Ryder Cup team since Jack Nicklaus in 1963. He’s on an amazing ride from small-town Vermont to the top of the professional golf world. Bradley comes from a deeply ski-enthused family. He took the even bolder step to follow golf, which launched him to eight wins on the PGA Tour, including a major championship title at the 2011 PGA Championship.
Bradley’s formative years were filled with hardship and struggle, but even through these challenges he demonstrated tenacity and ingenuity. During the summer of 2003, he was living with his dad, Mark Bradley, in a 28’ long motor home. They endearingly christened it “Tin Cup II,” after the 1996 movie that starred Kevin Costner as a golf pro. This unusual living arrangement was made possible when Mark took an assistant teaching job at Hopkinton Country Club in Massachusetts. An obstacle they were hesitant about was communal bathrooms. It was hard for Keegan to sleep on the card table that turned into a bad bed that was too short for his long legs.
A native of Vermont, Keegan Bradley developed a “grit mentality,” coming from a family with strong skiing tradition. His paternal grandparents opened their first ski shop in 1958, and skiing has been a huge part of his life ever since. After finishing third in the giant slalom at the state championships in March 2003, he returned home and laid down a challenge to his father. He convened press to announce that he was giving up skiing.
“I think the people of New England and the Northeast have a grit mindset to them,” said Bradley. That personal determination and fire inwardly drove him to ultimately make that call personally as he left his hopes behind and chose golf.
Bradley had offers from UConn and Penn State, but accepted St. John’s University’s scholarship offer from coach Darby. Yet his time there was not without difficulty. The team did not have a home course and often shuttled between clubs throughout the New York metropolitan area. His teammates were only able to play holes 3 through 14 at a course dubbed the “Short Course.” Meanwhile the last four holes were closed due to sandbagging restrictions.
Despite these obstacles, Bradley’s dedication shone through. He noted, “I had such a finite time to practice golf. I grew up in Vermont, and we had really severe winters… I had to capitalize on this time to hit balls, get ready to play, prepare to someday do this.” Throughout his career, that mentality never wavered.
After turning pro, Bradley earned a reputation as one of the toughest competitors on the PGA Tour. He accomplished both in tandem, winning eight tournaments and one major championship. These achievements set the stage for him as an American golf superstar.
Bradley’s been on both sides of the coin in recent years with his Ryder Cup fortune. He ranked 11th in points for the 2023 Ryder Cup team, but missed out on the final cut. Nevertheless, he seriously considered becoming the first playing captain since Arnold Palmer in 1963 after clinching first place at the Travelers Championship on June 22.
Reflecting on his leadership role, Bradley expressed admiration for his younger teammates: “I’ve told them this: I’m older than all of them but I look up to each and every one of them.” He emphasized the importance of camaraderie among players: “They’re all extremely good people. I’ve learned so much from this group of players. They go about their career in a much different way than I did.”
Bradley’s evolution from the ski slopes of Vermont to captaining the U.S. Ryder Cup team is a testament to his remarkable maturation process. It further highlights the role of grit and flexibility in pursuit of one’s dream and success.
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