Gary Woodland's Heartwarming Story Rolls On with Ryder Cup Appointment
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
There are no days off for Keegan Bradley when it comes to the Ryder Cup. There are still a few weeks to go before the players who will make the roster are announced, but news continues to arrive on the vice-captains' side.
Bradley announced on Wednesday the appointment of Gary Woodland as his fifth and final vice-captain for the upcoming Ryder Cup. The announcement was made official through the team's social media profiles.
Welcome to the team room, @GaryWoodland! 🇺🇸
Woodland has been named the fifth U.S. Ryder Cup Team Vice Captain by @Keegan_Bradley 🏆#GoUSA pic.twitter.com/7Qu8Kwvyyv — Ryder Cup USA (@RyderCupUSA) July 2, 2025
"I have an incredible amount of respect and admiration for Gary and all he has accomplished in this game," Bradley said.
"As a major champion and someone who is still competing at a high level, he is well aware of the demands of performing on golf's biggest stages."
"He will be a valuable leader for us over the coming months and throughout the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black."
Woodland, for his part, highlighted the extraordinary opportunity this appointment represents in his career:
"I am extremely excited and grateful to Keegan for the opportunity to support the U.S. Team at the 2025 Ryder Cup," he said.
"Keegan's passion for this event is contagious and I am thrilled to be a part of it. With just over two months to go until we arrive at Bethpage, I am fully committed to doing everything I can to help Keegan as well as our team of vice captains and players."
Gary Woodland is a model of resilience that will surely be an asset to the team. As you may recall, he underwent brain surgery less than two years ago to remove a lesion. Despite the delicate nature of the procedure, he was able to return to competing at the highest level.
Gary Woodland of the United States Team plays his second shot on the second hole in his match against Sungjae Im during the final day singles matches in the 2019 Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne...
Gary Woodland of the United States Team plays his second shot on the second hole in his match against Sungjae Im during the final day singles matches in the 2019 Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne Golf Club on December 15, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. MoreHe received the Courage Award at the start of the 2025 season for his perseverance in returning to the PGA Tour.
What Will Gary Woodland Bring to Team USA?
Although he has never participated in the Ryder Cup as a player, his experience as a major champion (2019 U.S. Open) and as a member of the American team at the 2019 Presidents Cup seems to have been enough for Keegan Bradley.
There's no doubt that Woodland has plenty of experience to share. He has competed at the highest level since 2009, with more than 400 starts on the PGA Tour under his belt.
His key results include four wins (including his major title), as well as 11 second-place finishes and more than 50 top-10 finishes.
Woodland completes the team of vice captains appointed by Bradley. He joins Jim Furyk, Brandt Snedeker, Kevin Kisner, and Webb Simpson in that capacity.
More Golf: Patrick Reed's Ryder Cup candidacy gets 'toxic' take via Eamon Lynch
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