Keegan Bradley Vows He Will 'Never Recover From' Crushing Ryder Cup Loss
Keegan Bradley has featured in three Ryder Cups as either a competitor or leader but is yet to win it.
Keegan Bradley fears he will "not ever recover from" the USA's loss to Europe after enduring "one of the toughest times" of his life since the loss at Bethpage.
The 39-year-old led the American squad at Bethpage this past fall, witnessing a disappointing performance as Europe secured a 15-13 victory.
His selection as captain made him the youngest captain for either team since Arnold Palmer in 1963.
However, he conceded he had made some wrong calls after his pairings and venue preparations faced scrutiny and criticism following the result, with Europe emerging as the initial squad to win away in over a decade.
"After the tournament, this has been among the most challenging moments of my career," said Bradley during his initial media appearance since the event.
"You win, it's glory for a lifetime - yet I failed and I must live with this outcome permanently."
"There's no part of me that this will ever fade. This tournament has been particularly harsh to me. I will always question and regret."
Notwithstanding a Thrilling Last Day Fightback Effort
Despite a inspiring last-round rally effort, Team USA faced an insurmountable challenge once Europe built a substantial advantage on the opening day and increased it to a commanding lead after the second day - the biggest lead entering the last round in modern Ryder Cup history.
And although the hosts secured 8.5 points from the 12 singles matches, it wasn't enough.
"You put so much into it, and you have all this planning, yet the initial rounds went as poorly as we could have ever thought," commented the captain.
Leader's Individual Challenges
It was anticipated to serve as both competitor and leader yet experienced a "change of heart" earlier this year and opted against playing in New York.
"The first practice day, I was out on the tee, observing the guys walk down the fairway as a group, and I said to myself 'I wish I was playing - that's the essence. I'm absent.'"
However, Bradley asserts his choice was correct in omitting himself from the team since he felt "completely drained" after two days of the match.
"I just didn't think handling both roles was impossible," he said.
A Track Record in the Tournament Disappointments
Bradley has now lost three tournaments both competing and leading. He has yet to open his suitcase since the 2012 loss at Medinah and also participated of the losing US side in Scotland in 2014.
And, despite being unsure about future opportunities, he says he will continue to offer his services for future editions.
The next Ryder Cup takes place at Adare Manor from September 17-19 the coming years.
