‘Anger, sadness’: Keegan Bradley Ryder Cup rejection laid bare on Full Swing
Season two of the Netflix series Full Swing showed the brutal moment when Keegan Bradley wasn’t selected for the 2023 US Ryder Cup side.
The gutwrenching moment Keegan Bradley knew he didn’t make the US Ryder Cup team was shown in season two of Full Swing.
Cameras entered the house of the Ryder Cup hopeful and six-time PGA Tour winner who was turned down by Team USA captain Zach Johnson during the latest chapter of the popular Netflix docu-series which was released on March 6.
The cameras showed Johnson calling Bradley while sitting next to his wife Kim and delivering the news to his fellow American with whom he represented America at the 2012 Ryder Cup at Medinah.
“Hi buddy. Thanks for being patient with me. There’s no easy way to say this, my friend, I find it best to just go in a different direction this year,” Johnson said when breaking the news to the 36-year-old Bradley, who’d been hoping to make his third Ryder Cup appearance.
“It’s nothing you did or didn’t do because you’re amazing on and off the course I just feel like it’s best this year to go in a different direction. I would love to take 30 guys but I cannot. And just know that I am so grateful for you.”
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Despite winning the ZOZO Championship and the Travelers Championship during the season before the biennial dust-up with Europe, the former PGA champion wasn’t preferred ahead of Justin Thomas, a two-time PGA champion himself who was also at risk of not being selected.
“OK Zach, I understand. Wishing you obviously good luck and hope that you guys go over there and win it,” Bradley said.
“It’s anger, sadness, all the things but then it’s like there’s no wrong decisions with who’s on the team, everyone’s such a great player,” he added.
Bradley was filmed watching the Ryder Cup with his wife and children, cheering on Team USA and discussing the role of the man he was up against for selection.
“I love these guys, and one of the main reasons I wanted to make the team was I wanted to be around these guys. The energy that they have. And I see JT the way he prepares and practices and if I was the captain, I would want him in my locker room.”
The episode showed Brooks Koepka, Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler receiving calls from Johnson and getting the green light for team selection.
Although Johnson’s US team appeared stronger on paper and won the Ryder Cup with a record 19-9 scoreline at Whistling Straits in 2021, Europe wrestled back the trophy in Rome last year by 16.5 points to 11.5 points.
Bradley made his debut for Team USA in 2012 and then made the team again in 2014 at Gleneagles in Scotland. Having been on two losing teams, Bradley maintained his determination to win the Ryder Cup one day with his country.
“I just hope, some day, I get to win a Ryder Cup and open that thing and just have, like, a peace-of-mind moment, because I’m thinking about the Ryder Cup every second of every day.”
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Matt Chivers
Now on the wrong side of 25, Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.
Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.
Having studied history at the University of Liverpool, Matt went on to pass his NCTJ Exams in Manchester a year later to fulfil his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist. He picked up work experience along the way at places such as the Racing Post, the Independent, Sportsbeat and the Lancashire Evening Post.
Matt joined NCG in February 2023 and is the website’s main source of tour news, features and opinion. He has reported live from events such as The Open, the Ryder Cup and The Players Championship, having also interviewed and spent time with some of the biggest names in the sport.
Consuming tour golf on what is a 24/7 basis, you can come to Matt for informed views on the game and the latest updates on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and LIV Golf.
What’s in Matt’s bag: Cobra LTDx LS driver, Cobra LTDx 3-wood, TaylorMade P7MC irons, Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, Odyssey putter.
