Ryder Cup 2025: Captains’ Bromance Between Luke Donald and Keegan Bradley
The 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black features a surprising captains’ bromance between Europe’s Luke Donald and the U.S.’s Keegan Bradley. Their mutual respect adds warmth to the rivalry, set for September 26-28 in New York. This dynamic humanizes the event, blending camaraderie with high-stakes golf drama.
Roots of the Friendship
Donald and Bradley, neighbors in Florida and co-founders of a restaurant at Bear’s Club, share a deep bond. At Monday’s press conference, Donald said: “Keegan is someone I’ve always rooted for.” Bradley replied: “I admire Luke more than most in golf.” Their rapport contrasts Bethpage Black’s tough layout—tight fairways and fast greens—hosting the par-71 course publicly.
Preparing for the Pressure
Donald uses VR headsets to simulate crowd noise for Europe. Vice-captain Rory McIlroy noted: “You can program it to get edgy.” Bradley led a national anthem session for unity, drawing from his 2012 win. He skipped playing, focusing on captaincy: “This is my greater calling.”
Ryder Cup Stakes
The U.S. seeks a third straight home win; Europe aims for a road victory since 2012. Donald admitted: “We haven’t won away in three of four.” Bradley added: “No matter the outcome, I’ll share a drink with Luke.” Tune into BBC Sport for live commentary from 11:30 BST, radio from 12:00, and iPlayer highlights.
