Donald and Bradley’s love-in sets tone for Ryder Cup

2025 Ryder Cup

Dates: September 26 through September 28th, 2018 Bethpage Black, New York

After all the talk of a Bethpage “bearpit” in the run-up to this week’s Ryder Cup, Monday’s opening exchanges between the captains in New York couldn’t have been more adorable.

Luke Donald and Keegan Bradley, both of whom are expected to bring a spikiness to Bethpage, will deliver the bonhomie.

They are founding partners in a nearby restaurant, live four miles apart in Florida, and are members of Jack Nicklaus’ “Bear’s Club.”

In his opening remarks, Donald mentioned their “strong friendship” and “deep, mutual respect” for one another.

“I’ve rooted for Kate,” Donald said. I would text him if he won or did well in a tournament. Sometimes we have dinner together or we practice together.

Bradley retorted, “Luke Donald is the only person in the golf world that I like more.”

Because we exchange texts and joke jokes, I consider it fortunate that Luke is on the other side. I enjoy drinking and hanging out with Luke Donald.

At Bethpage’s renowned Black Course, spectators were restricted access to the property until Tuesday, which echoed a surreal calm.

Donald’s dozen will then play all 18 holes of this hilly course on Long Island, about 40 miles east of Manhattan, giving Europeans a firsthand experience of the support provided by New York.

And the thousands of fans in the stand that encircles the first tee and the adjacent 18th green might “welcome” them. But will it be as enthralling as the nearly 5, 000-seat stand that horseshoed the first tee in Rome in 2023, creating a cauldron?

Rory McIlroy explained that Donald is taking no chances by providing his players with virtual reality headsets that can be programmed to mimic the ” sights and sounds” the away team are anticipating.

Before departing for a practice round, Bradley assembled his team on the first tee early on Monday and played the national anthem.

He said, “Every second the guys are together and can have a powerful moment, it brings them closer together.”

That was a lot of fun. For about a year, I had the idea of doing that, and the guys’ reaction to how emotionally charged they were.

Bradley chose not to be the US team’s wildcard pick despite placing 11th in the qualifying standings, which would have ended the debate over whether he would become the team’s first player-captain since Arnold Palmer in 1963.

And when he asked if he felt resentment toward his choice, he said, “I’ve given it a second.

“Sometimes I catch myself glancing down the fairway, admiring the men, and considering how badly I want to do that.

However, I feel like I should be working on a bigger goal: getting our guys ready to play at the highest level.

Both captains, of course, expressed their desire to win this week. After all, that’s what we’re here for. Will the US win a third straight away game to extend their winning streak at home, or will defending champions Europe win their first contest since 2012?

Donald said, “We haven’t even managed to win three of our previous four away Ryder Cups,” It hasn’t come very close. That gap needs to be filled, in my opinion.

However, both skippers are in agreement on how to end the week in harmony.