Bitter defeat from Bethpage is still afresh. Bradley made some poor choices, like pairing Morikawa and English twice, despite the backlash. With painful defeat comes resilience, and the Americans are ready to take Adare Manor in Ireland by storm in 2027. The question is, who will lead the US squad? Stewart Cink is interested. He wanted to do it this year, too, but was ghosted.

“I thought it went well, but I haven’t received one word since then.  Never got a call back that said we’re going in another direction.  All I know is at the end of the conversation, it sounded like, ‘Things look pretty good for you.’ Never heard another word. I was gutted. I thought I had a pretty good shot at it. It’s not a selfish thing, though; I want the team to be the best team it can be,” Cink said of his discussion with John Wood, US team manager.

Following that, Cink learned at the 2024 Scottish Open that Bradley would get the nod for the 45th Ryder Cup, and he wasn’t shy about his disappointment. His comments also highlighted the PGA’s messy selection process, showing that even seasoned veterans can get left in the lurch despite having the credentials and experience to lead.

“I thought the PGA got themselves into a mess this year because Keegan was one of our top 12 players, and because he was captain, they kind of prevented him from playing. I don’t have any desire or designs to think that I will be on the next team. So, we can remove that topic right away. But I’m not that far removed from playing out there every week and the majors and even winning tournaments,” he said.

Now, as Cink voices his frustration, the PGA of America faces mounting criticism from fans. One fan summed it up bluntly, stating, “Sounds like the PGA needs to be gutted.” Meanwhile, Cink isn’t holding back. “Europe leaves no stone unturned. We’ve got to do things differently. I’d love the chance to shake it up and see what really works for us.”

Cink is doubling down on how eagerly he wants to lead the American squad, HIS SQUAD.

“Heck yeah, I’m interested,” said Cink ahead of this week’s PGA Tour Champions stop. “I’d love to represent the United States, take some of the experience I’ve got, and hopefully turn this thing around. The Ryder Cup has felt like a European party for 15 years. It’s not something you go out and sell yourself on. I hope I get a chance to be Ryder Cup captain and turn this thing around for the U.S,” Cink said.

The 52-year-old certainly has the credentials to back it up. As a 5 time Ryder Cupper, four-time Presidents Cup competitor, 8-time PGA Tour winner, and 2009 British Open champion, Cink has the experience to turn the tide. For 2027, the PGA of America can’t repeat the same mistake that it made with Bradley. He did not even know he was under consideration.

So far, the PGA’s inefficiency continues to draw mounting criticism.

Fans erupted in outrage at the PGA of America

One fan didn’t hold back on social media. “If I were Stewart Cink, I would be royally pissed!” he wrote.

One fan slammed the PGA’s choice of captain, adding that Team USA “needed a seasoned leader, with much more experience than Keegan Bradley.” He also argued that the Americans need a proper system to develop and bring forward the best players. “They need look no further than what @RyderCupEurope and @LukeDonald did!!” added the fan, praising Europe’s well-oiled setup.

When Bradley began to answer if he felt out-captained by Donald, Justin Thomas jumped in. “We needed to make more putts. That’s what Keegan needed,” said Thomas with a hint of sarcasm, defending his captain. As the team faced questions and glimpsed the celebrating Europeans, the sting of defeat was clear. Despite some questionable calls, Bradley earned respect from his players, who saw him as one of their own. And Thomas’s quick defense highlighted that connection. But fans aren’t convinced.

One tweeted, “Cink would be a great choice. They need a captain who isn’t playing alongside team members week in and week out.” Now, with questions looming over for 2017, more fans have started sharing their thoughts.

One fan didn’t hold back, tweeting, “PGA leadership is so bad from the top down. Would not trust them to run a lemonade stand.” Another piled on, pointing out the recent mishaps, stating, “The PGA these past 10 days has shown how far out of touch they are. From picking a non–non-fan-friendly course to creating a massive hospitality village around 15, 16, 17 that limited seating—it was a total mess.”

People are clearly fed up, and the criticism is loud and unfiltered.