Europe Tops US 15-13 Ryder Cup at Bethpage; Bradley Faces Criticism

Keegan Bradley, the US Ryder Cup captain in 2025, faced widespread criticism for his leadership after the US team was defeated 15-13 by Europe at Bethpage Black. Despite a strong comeback in the singles matches, Bradley's strategic decisions, especially his repeated pairing of Collin Morikawa and Harris English in foursomes, were heavily questioned, with analytics indicating this was the worst possible combination. Critics compared his captaincy unfavorably to past US captains like Hal Sutton, noting Bradley’s gaffes, including thanking the wrong player and his overly enthusiastic crowd engagement. Bradley acknowledged he would have set the course differently but praised the European team and their captain, Luke Donald, who was lauded as one of the best in Ryder Cup history. The US captain retained confidence in his plan despite mounting losses, but many viewed his refusal to adapt as a key factor in the American team's downfall. Bradley expressed personal fulfillment from the experience, despite the outcome and criticism.