Keegan Bradley Opens Up About Unforgettable Incident With Father That Changed His Life Forever

Long before he won a major championship, and long before the day he was named captain of the United States Ryder Cup team, there was a moment in 1999 that ticked something in young Keegan Bradley. He was twelve or thirteen years old when Justin Leonard‘s iconic putt won the U.S. team the 1999 Ryder Cup. For the young Keegan, it wasn’t simply a golf tournament; it was the ignition point for everything that came after.

Sitting down with Colt Knost, the memories came flooding back when Keegan’s father, Mark Bradley himself, made an appearance on SiriusXM Radio. He said, “Hi, Keegs. Dad here. It’s been 26 years since you and I attended the 1999 Ryder Cup at the Country Club in Brookline mass. And it was a very special time for both of us. And I know it had a profound effect on your life and what you wanted to do later in your life, and look at you now. You’re the captain of the United States team, so proud of you. And I wish you and your team all the best this September.”

At the 1999 Ryder Cup, team USA won over Europe 14 1⁄2 to 13 1⁄2. Team Europe was headed by Mark James and the USA was led by Ben Crenshaw. Now, Bradley prepares his own team in hopes of replicating such a monumental win. The 2025 Ryder Cup is all set to begin at Bethpage Black from 26-28 September.

Hearing this, Knost asked Keegan a follow-up question, “Your dad bought up the 1999 Ryder Cup which y’all went to at Brookline. Take us back, what do you remember from that? And how crazy is it that you were there, in the gallery, and now you are leading Team USA.” Keegan took that chance to open the memory box, reminiscing.

“Crazy. I mean, it changed my life forever. It really did. I was golf-obsessed. I wanted to play PGA Tour, but this, like, put me into hyperdrive. I watched Justin Leonard’s putt on my Dad’s shoulders. I was 12 or 13 at the time and on 18 on Sunday when they won, everyone ran onto the green. And I told my dad, I said, ‘I really want to run out there with them.’ And no cell phones or anything. So he let me do it and there was this crooked tree behind the green. I said, ‘I’m gonna wait behind this tree, you go do your thing, and I’ll meet you right here.”

The 1999 Ryder Cup at The Country Club in Brookline is still remembered as one of the most dramatic chapters in the competition’s history. The U.S., captained by Ben Crenshaw, staged a comeback for the ages, capped by Justin Leonard’s unforgettable birdie on the 17th green. As the ball dropped, American players, staff, and fans stormed onto the green in wild celebration, even before José María Olazábal had finished his own putt. It was controversial, chaotic, but it was also iconic. The U.S. would win 14.5–13.5, and the ‘Battle of Brookline’ would enter Ryder Cup lore forever.

Keegan further added, “So I took off, I ran out there. I remember seeing Payne Stewart and Colin Montgomerie and I ran back, and it was a memory I’ll never forget. And really, that day changed my life forever because I wasn’t really aware of this iconic Ryder Cup that is just so incredible. And I’m really grateful for that. And to be, fast forward, and be the captain. Surreal. I mean this is the stuff that goes past your dreams or you don’t dream of being a Ryder Cup captain because it’s ridiculous. So it’s really something special.” 

Since then, Bradley has been on two Ryder Cup teams: 2012 and 2014. Although Team USA lost both times, Bradley recorded 3–1–0 (2012) and 1–2–0 (2014). Now, the 2025 Travelers Champions winner will headline Team USA as the youngest captain since Arnold Palmer, 1963, who was just 34 years old.

However, what shocked the golf community the most is when Bradley gave up the chance at  another feat of history, which Arnold Palmer did as well.

Keegan Bradley will not be a playing captain for Team USA

To much surprise, Keegan Bradley did not pick himself, with many assuming the world No. 11 would become the first playing captain since Arnold Palmer in 1963. His form, strokes-gained numbers, and late-season surge all suggested he had every right to slot into his own roster. Instead, he drew a hard line between personal ambition and team responsibility; a move that stunned golf fans and analysts alike.

What did the captain say about his move? “I grew up wanting to play Ryder Cups. I grew up wanting to fight alongside these guys. It broke my heart not to play. It really did. You work forever to make these teams, but ultimately I was chosen to do a job. I was chosen to be the captain of this team.” The role of a Ryder Cup team captain can be quite a handful than most would assume, which is also the reason why there were so many debates when it was first announced that Bradley might be a playing captain. As Rory McIlroy had also iterated, juggling the role of captain and player is not at all favourable, and the role of the Captain has evolved over the years, adding more responsibility.

Ultimately, Keegan Bradley understood that, “you’ve got to quickly remind yourself what an honour it is to be the Ryder Cup captain. So many players that are much more deserving of me never got the opportunity to do this. This is the ultimate job in golf.” Taking this decision also removed Bradley of any criticism that he might have self-interest only. This instead puts Bradley as a great captain.

The 39-year-old, who teed twice for the U.S. in Ryder Cups, chose not to chase a personal return this time around. Instead, he finalized the lineup by naming six captain’s picks: Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Ben Griffin, Cameron Young, Patrick Cantlay, and Sam Burns to round out a roster that already included automatic qualifiers Scottie Scheffler, J.J. Spaun, Xander Schauffele, Russell Henley, Harris English, and Bryson DeChambeau.

By leaving himself out of the lineup, Bradley sent a clear message that his commitment is to the role of captain above all else. His attention now shifts entirely to shaping strategy, preparing pairings, and ensuring Team USA has every possible edge as they chase the Ryder Cup back from Europe.