Ryder Cup
Sergio Garcia (back in?), Phil Mickelson (definitely out) and 4 other things we learned from the Ryder Cup captains' press conference
Darren Carroll/PGA of America
NEW YORK — There's a little less than a year to go until the 2025 Ryder Cup, but you'd think the event was starting this week the way Keegan Bradley and Luke Donald strutted onto the stage following an electric hype video Tuesday morning at The Times Center in Midtown Manhattan.
Commuting into Times Square on a beautiful, busy New York City morning is a natural energy booster, but it was the anticipation for next year's biennial event at Bethpage Black that provided all the buzz at the captains' press conference. Bradley and Donald fielded a number of queries from media on site and via Zoom, as well as after the presser in a small scrum of golf writers.
Here's everything we learned from this Ryder Cup preview event.
Sergio Garcia ... back in?
In a shocking turn of events, the European Team's all-time points record holder, Sergio Garcia, might not be done adding to his career points tally after all. That seemed like an impossibility in 2023 when the Spaniard defected for the LIV Tour and subsequently resigned his membership on the DP World Tour to avoid fines and a suspension. According to Donald, though, the 2017 Masters champion is considering reversing course on that decision, which would make him eligible once more to compete in the Ryder Cup.
"We have had some chats," Donald said. "He's considering rejoining. He'd have to follow all the rules and regulations like everyone else, and if he does that, again, he will be eligible to partake in the Ryder Cup."
One of those chats took place fairly recently, says Donald.
"Yeah, we chatted on phone a couple weeks ago. You know, he's certainly very interested in doing that. He understands everything that's involved, and again, the decision has to go to him, whether he's prepared to do all that. But certainly, we've had that discussion, yes."
Even if Garcia does rejoin—which require several procedural steps with the DP World Tour, including payment of fines and fulfilling sanctions—the 44-year-old would have work to do to play his way onto an alreday talented team. Perhaps his veteran presence could be just what's needed in a hostile environment like Bethpage Black, where Garcia has had his fair share of history over the years.
Phil Mickelson ... definitely out?
There was once a time where Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia were mortal locks to captain these two teams at this specific venue. That time has clearly passed, though Garcia is now looking for a pathway back into the event in some capacity. Has Mickelson expressed similar interest to captain Keegan Bradley, who he famously teamed up with in consecutive Ryder Cups in 2012 and 2014, going 4-1-0 as a duo?
Apparently not.
Is it possible that as things continue to progress between the PGA Tour and LIV that this might change over the next year? Certainly. But by the sounds of it, Mickelson more than likely won't be there, which is a downright sad fact for New York golf fans who had Lefty penciled in as captain at Bethpage years ago. Good news is, his old pards, Bradley, seems like the perfect replacement.
The European Team's new, and far less confusing, qualifying process
In the past, the European side used two different criteria to determine its automatic qualifiers for the squad. The first was a European points list based on points earned on the DP World Tour and the second was a World Points list based on the Official World Golf Ranking. For 2025, it will now just be one list, Donald clarified on Tuesday.
"It's slightly different," Donald said of the qualification process, which began last month at the British Masters at The Belfry. "Same six automatic qualifiers. We've streamlined that into one list now, instead of two that it was previously. I think it makes it a little more simpler for fans and the viewers to understand.
"We made a few changes just because of the changing landscape in golf, and we wanted to create something that we thought would give us the strongest six, and then we have obviously six picks like we did last time to round out our team. I think it's a great qualification system, again, to give us the best and strongest field we possibly can get for this Ryder Cup."
The full qualification process for the European Team is outlined here. As for the American team, its qualification process will remain the same as it has been in previous years, which is outlined here.
Keegan Bradley as playing captain? Don't count on it
Keegan's second act has been so good these last few years that it seems not only realistic, but possible that he could become the first playing captain in the event since Arnold Palmer was in 1963 at the Atlanta Athletic Club (the U.S. won 23-9 and Palmer went 4-2-0). But as of now that is the last thing on his mind, especially after keeping a closer eye on how Jim Furyk handled all the captain duties at the Presidents Cup in Canada.
"So it was really important for me to be around the time. First it was going to be a vice captain, and then obviously I played, and I wasn't in that vice captain role," Bradley said. "So it was important for me to remember the nerves of these tournaments. You know, it was important to remember the preparation that goes into it, and I was able to really watch what Jim and the vice captains did, creating an atmosphere for us to succeed and to do well and be prepared and know who you're playing with and have a real plan.
"As for me to play, it's always a goal of mine to play on the Ryder Cup teams. It's so far off now that it's really … I'm not going to worry about it. Once we get closer to the tournament and I'm up there on the points list, then we'll start to think about it. But I'm focused now on being the captain of the team and that's it."
As it stands, Bradley is a distant 26th on the points list, but given how he finished this past season it's not crazy to think he could carry over the momentum into a huge 2025. By the sound of it, though, the only way he'll be on the team is if he makes it as an automatic qualifier. We're supposed to be unbiased, but we feel comfortable in stating that we are absolutely rooting for that sort of chaos. Could you imagine Bradley hitting the opening tee shot at Bethpage Black on Friday morning? It would be "scenes" and "box office," as they say across the pond.
Home team has less say than ever in course setup, Bradley says
Much is often made about the "home-field advantage" at these Ryder Cups, and we're not talking about the crowd noise. Course setup is always a topic of discussion. How will the Americans set up Bethpage Black to accentuate their skills? Longer rough? Premium on distance? Crazy pin placements? Bradley says that stuff is very overblown, and they actually have much less say in the matter than we think.
"Well, I know that the home team definitely has a lot less say in the setup than it used to," he said. "I remember my first couple, I think we had … the home team had a pretty serious say in the course setup and where the tees were.
"We lose in the United States, I think it's three or four months before the tournament, we have no control. We have no control of the pin positions or where the tees are. We have a small little role in that. But truthfully, we're still out there going to play golf. It doesn't matter, really, how the courses are set up. We're going out there and playing against each other. We have no say in the setup."
WARNING: PGA of America has "precautions" in place for unruly fans
One of the best parts about the Ryder Cup is just how into it the home fans get, but there's no arguing that things can sometimes veer into NSFW, way-too-personal territory. And by the way, no matter what any whiny European golf writer tells you, this happens in both America and in Europe.
That said, New York—particularly Long Island—is a much different animal. You can take it to the bank that someone is going to say something they shouldn't. According to both captains, the PGA of America has plans in place to handle spectators who go over the line.
"I have total faith in the fans of New York to cheer on their team, proudly and loudly," Bradley said. "I don't want them to cross the line, to do anything that would affect the course of play. But it's going to be a tough atmosphere. It's going to be tough for both teams. You know, I think Luke would say, you've sort of got to be ready for it.
"When we come play Bethpage in a major championship, you're ready for this is going to be an atmosphere that we are not normally used to. But I love the New York fans. I'm excited that they are on our side, and I have total faith in them. The PGA of America already has precautions in place if people cross the line."
Bradley didn't divulge what those precautions were, but it feels safe to assume they may involve the removal of anybody who goes too far. Standard procedure at sporting events in 2024.
