The Ryder Cup is just around the corner, and golf fans all over the world are eagerly awaiting the event. However, there have been some notable snubs in the selection process for Team USA, and one player who didn’t make the cut is Keegan Bradley. Despite this disappointment, Bradley found himself in Rome earlier this month in one of the funniest ways possible.
A Twitter user named Kage, who hosts the podcast “Laying in the Fairway,” shared a photo of himself with a frame of Bradley. The caption read, “Brought Keegan Bradley to Rome where he belongs.” The post quickly gained traction on X (formerly Twitter), garnering nearly half a million views. One of those views happened to be Bradley himself, who retweeted the photo with the response, “Haha this made me smile. Thanks boys!”
Bradley had an excellent season on the PGA Tour, winning twice and notching one runner-up finish. He also had six top-10 finishes and ten top-25 finishes. With only five missed cuts throughout the season, Bradley’s strong performances culminated in a T9 finish at the Tour Championship in the FedEx Cup standings.
Considering Bradley’s impressive season, many were surprised that he wasn’t chosen as one of the captain’s picks by Zach Johnson. Bradley voiced his disappointment about being left off the team, expressing his surprise and frustration. Instead, Johnson opted for Justin Thomas and Sam Burns as his final two selections.
Despite Thomas having a challenging year, his past success and tenacity in the Ryder Cup ultimately secured his spot on the team. Both Thomas and Burns have a winning career record in the biennial event, making them valuable additions to Team USA.
Although the fan’s post with Bradley in Rome may not be much consolation for the golfer, it does show support for the veteran player. It raises an interesting question regarding the criteria for selecting Ryder Cup team members, namely whether current form or historical precedence should carry more weight. This debate could spark further discussions among fans.
While Bradley may not be teeing off at the Ryder Cup this year, the support shown by fans and the recognition of his strong season highlights his talent and dedication to the sport. Perhaps this will motivate Bradley even more in future tournaments and fuel his determination to make his mark on the Ryder Cup stage in the future.
About the author: Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. For more golf coverage, you can follow her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports. Also, be sure to check out @_PlayingThrough for additional content.