Keegan Bradley Praised for 'Wise Choice' Sure to Boost Team USA at Ryder Cup
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Keegan Bradley's decision to name Gary Woodland as vice-captain for the Ryder Cup took the golf world by surprise. However, the news has gradually sunk in over the past few days, and most have come to see the positive side of the appointment.
Rex Hoggard and Ryan Lavner, hosts of the 'Golf Channel podcast with Rex & Lav,' are among those who applauded Bradley's decision. Supporting his view, Hoggard cited the tremendous appreciation players have for Woodland.
"Gary is respected in the team room. He is respected as a player, he is still very much an active player, so he will be able to add a lot to those conversations about who you would pair him with," Hoggard said.
"Everyone respects what he has overcome, how he continues to play and how he continues to be on the PGA Tour. Given the fact that Bradley seems to be trending more and more towards a player than a captain, I think all of the vice captains will have a lot of voice."
Keegan Bradley celebrates on the 15th green after he made birdie to defeat the team of Donald/Garcia 4&3 during the Morning Foursome Matches for The 39th Ryder Cup at Medinah Country Club on September 28,...
Keegan Bradley celebrates on the 15th green after he made birdie to defeat the team of Donald/Garcia 4&3 during the Morning Foursome Matches for The 39th Ryder Cup at Medinah Country Club on September 28, 2012 in Medinah, Illinois. MoreLavner, for his part, also places great value on the ties Woodland has with most of the players expected to be on the team.
"I think it's a really wise choice by Keegan Bradley," Lavner noted. "He's still in his early 40s, he's a beloved player, a lot of South Florida ties, which is obviously what the majority of this US Ryder Cup team is going to be."
Does Gary Woodland Lack Experience?
One concern many fans may have is Woodland's apparent lack of experience. However, this isn't something Lavner is losing sleep over.
"Although he has been in only one US team previously, that was the 2019 Presidents Cup, the one that traveled to Australia with playing captain Tiger Woods, the guy absolutely bleeds red, white and blue," Lavner said.
Gary Woodland has certainly never played in the Ryder Cup and has only appeared in one edition of the Presidents Cup.
However, "lack of experience" becomes a relative term, as he's a player with more than 380 PGA Tour starts, four career victories, and a major championship to his name.
Keegan Bradley announced the appointment of Gary Woodland as his fifth and final vice-captain a week ago. In doing so, the captain of the American Ryder Cup team highlighted the qualities of a "valuable leader" that Woodland will bring to the group.
The Ryder Cup will be played in September at Bethpage Black, New York. To date, only Scottie Scheffler is mathematically assured of joining the team.
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