Keegan Bradley is not going to be the playing captain at Bethpage. It’s a well-known fact now. However, he still might have a deputy who is doing the good work for him while he focuses on the strategy side of things. And it’s not just any other player. It’s the world #1 himself, Scottie Scheffler, who is proving himself to be a great addition to the unit. Beyond being a player, a dominant force, he’s an inspiration and someone Bradley can rely on. That’s what the Team U.S. captain believes.

As the two get ready to play the 2025 Procore Championship, Keegan sat down for a press conference preceding the tournament. That’s when he was asked how different it is to have Scottie as a part of the squad.

Bradley told the media, “The more I’m around Scottie, the more I’m impressed with who he is. We all know what a generational talent player Scottie is, but when you see Scottie around our guys, around the rookies, the willingness of him to do literally whatever it takes for us to win the Ryder Cup. And when your best player is doing that, you know, the rest of your team is going to fall in line of his lead.”

Being the champion player that he is, Scheffler always likes to show the best version of himself. At least when he’s not put in pressure situations where things aren’t going his way. Fans witnessed that during the 2024 Presidents Cup, where he and Russell Henley led the charge to take back control for the American side during a crucial foursomes contest on Saturday. That proved to be clinical in their fight towards winning the title at the Royal Montreal Golf Club.

Coming back to Keegan’s statement, he also added, “I think what’s most impressive about Scottie is just the person that he is. When you see the way he plays golf, you’re amazed, but then when you speak to him and you’re around him and you watch him from afar and you watch him with his family and you see his interaction with the younger players and the caddies, you really have — I admire him, I look up to Scottie. I’m not afraid to say that. He does a lot of things right. Shows up on the golf course, shows up in the team room, and obviously, he’ll be a big part of our team at Bethpage.”

Scheffler has always been known to be a stand-up guy. While many have compared him to Tiger Woods, what sets him apart from the big cat is that he has not been influenced by the riches that come along with finding success in golf. He still lives in the same home he built when he got married to his wife, Meredith. He still drives a modest car. He still prefers to have chicken fingers and his grandma’s ravioli over fancy dinners in expensive restaurants. And that attitude transitions into his personality on the course as well.

In fact, Bradley is not the first individual to say this. Even Ludvig Aberg admitted that Scheffler has remained extremely grounded even after climbing the mountain like he has. That’s what makes him so likable among the fans and his peers. However, when Scottie was asked about his role on the team, he had a different take on it.

Scottie Scheffler gives his honest opinion about Keegan Bradley’s views about him

Scottie Scheffler also joined the press conference some time after Keegan Bradley had concluded his interview. After a few questions, one of the reporters asked him to give his take on what the Team U.S. captain had to say about him. The world #1 replied, “I mean, to be honest with you, I don’t really think about it. When guys have questions, they’re willing to ask. You know, Keegan, I think is our leader, that’s why he’s the captain, and he’s done a really good job.”

Like any good teammate, he was quick to give his captain the credit for doing a great job. Bradley not picking himself as a player would have been a difficult decision to take. That might have also been a big reason why Scheffler would have acknowledged his strategic efforts.

He further added, “As far as my role on the team, I think we’re all just trying to be ourselves. I love the other 11 guys we have on the squad, we have great vice captains as well, and we have a really fun squad, we have a good time, and everybody’s doing whatever they can in order to be prepared to go play Bethpage, and that’s really all we can ask for.”

Once again, Scottie Scheffler didn’t want to take any credit for the dynamic of the team. As all the 12 players, the vice captains, and Keegan Bradley are entirely focused on winning at Bethpage, they are doing their best to find ways to get along with each other. After all, that is what will help them outperform Team Europe during the 2025 Ryder Cup. Judging by how well the Europeans are getting along, the Americans will need to be on the same page if they want to triumph at Bethpage. Whether it comes with Scheffler leading the side on the course or not is for them to decide.