At 7:07 a.m. ET, professional golfer Collin Morikawa was spotted on the driving range, finishing his swing with just one hand on the club. He exhaled deeply and adjusted his cap before heading back to the practice area. Fast forward to 8:53 a.m. ET, and a spectator from the home crowd sarcastically shouted at Team USA's captain, Keegan Bradley, “Working out well, Keegan!” This comment hinted at the impending loss of a point, a prediction many had made long before it became clear to Bradley.
Prior to the matches, Keegan Bradley had declared to the assembled USA team on Netflix’s Full Swing that they were going to "Bethpage to kick their f*ing ass." However, it became evident that the 2025 Ryder Cup was unraveling embarrassingly fast, particularly in the early hours of each day. In a moment of reflection, Bradley shared, “They’re going to underestimate me, they’re going to doubt me. I’ve been doubted my whole f*ing life and that’s when I do my best work.” While this attitude may have fueled his solo career in professional golf, it raised questions about his strategies during the Ryder Cup.
Despite his confidence, Bradley's decisions raised eyebrows, particularly his choice to send out the struggling Morikawa-Harris English duo in the alternate shot format for a second consecutive day. Data Golf, a reputable analytics site, ranked this pairing as the 132nd out of a possible 132 in their modeling and analysis. While data isn't definitive, the statistics were hard to ignore, especially after the pair had been decisively defeated by Europe the previous day, losing 5 and 4 by the 14th green.
When questioned about his decision to stick with Morikawa and English despite their poor showing, Bradley remained steadfast: “We have a plan of what we're going to do. They beat us today, but you know, we're really comfortable with our plan. We're really comfortable with those two players… Be an exciting match, and we're sticking to our plan.” This highlighted his determination to prove doubters wrong, even when facing overwhelming odds.
Compounding the challenges, Morikawa and English were once again pitted against the formidable European team of Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood, who had previously dominated them. The only silver lining for Team USA was that they managed to reach the 15th tee, following a couple of late holes won, but the outcome was still bleak. The match had started positively for the USA: at 7:40 a.m. ET, English celebrated a birdie that briefly put them ahead. However, this lead evaporated quickly; Fleetwood sunk a 30-foot putt on the second hole, leveling the match. From that point, Europe surged ahead, maintaining their lead throughout.
By 8:25 a.m. ET, McIlroy had made a 20-foot birdie at the fifth hole, solidifying Europe’s advantage. Given the recent performance of the players, data models, and the previous day's results, the outcome felt imminent. Yet, Bradley remained resolute, driven by the tenacity that has characterized his career.
Adding to the mounting pressure, Morikawa, who had switched to a new putter this week, missed crucial putts at holes 7 and 8, widening the margin to 4 down. By 9:13 a.m. ET, a member of the crowd shouted, “Tommy and Rory go easy on them,” further highlighting the overwhelming support for the European duo. This crowd dynamic served as a stark reminder of the uphill battle the USA team faced. The lack of enthusiasm for the home team, coupled with the audience's jeers directed at McIlroy, indicated a troubling atmosphere for Team USA.
As the 2025 Ryder Cup progresses, the challenges faced by Keegan Bradley and his team become increasingly evident. The struggle to overcome doubt and adversity is palpable, and the stakes are higher than ever as they fight for redemption on the international stage.
