Latest news with #Bethpage
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Sergio Garcia has secret Ryder Cup weapon for team Europe as he eyes dream double
The Spanish star is still fighting to be at Royal Portrush and Bethpage Fired-up Sergio Garcia reckons his valuable Ryder Cup experience could make him a big asset to Europe as he eyes a dream Bethpage and Open double. The 45-year-old is currently playing the LIV event in Dallas aiming to book his ticket to next month's cracker at Royal Portrush. If Garcia ends the Texas event on Sunday evening in the top five of the individual LIV standings and top of those stars not already qualified for the 153rd Championship, he'll be heading to Northern Ireland. Currently fourth, those above him at the start of play, Joaquin Niemann, Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm, have secured their spots in the Open field and Garcia can join them if he stays in his current position. Garcia hopes an outing at The Open will see him complete a special set of summer tournaments during a huge five weeks where he will also tee-up back on the DP World Tour at next week's BMW International Open in Germany and at LIV Andalucia on his beloved Valderrama and in the UK. He's excited for the challenges and, speaking to Marca, he said: 'I'd say every moment is important, but without a doubt, these five consecutive tournaments I probably have now are important because of their position in the season and because there's a Major in between. 'Starting now in Dallas, then the BMW International Open, Valderrama, which I'm really looking forward to because I'm defending the individual and team titles. If I play well here in Dallas, I'll qualify for the British Open and wouldn't have to play qualifiers. 'Finally [LIV] UK. It's obviously an important part of the year and I have to try to do my best. 'I've always loved and been motivated to play in Spain. Every time I play in my country is very special, and fortunately, I've had a lot of success in my career when I've played tournaments at home. 'It's beautiful, it motivates me a lot to play in front of my fans, but Valderrama is even more special because it's my favourite course and I've always been very good at it. 'If everything goes well and nothing unusual happens physically, I'd definitely like to be at the Spanish Open. 'I'll try to play in some other tournaments at the end of summer or late fall.' Garcia firmly believes he still has the chance within this key current timeframe to convince captain Luke Donald he is worthy of a place in the side for the clash against United States. Europe's record points scorer feels he can be an asset and played alongside the skipper when the continent was last successful on away soil at Medinah in 2012. He said: 'There are still almost three months to go until the Ryder Cup, although a little less time until the team selection and I think I'm in a position where I would have chosen it at the beginning of the year. 'If they had told me I was going to be in this position and with a chance of being on the Ryder Cup team, obviously I would have taken it without a doubt. 'Now what I have to do is keep showing my strengths, keep showing my golf, especially what I showed in the first third of the year. 'The good thing is that I know I'm on Luke's ballot and I just have to keep showing that I can do good things and that I can help the team. The Ryder Cup is my favourite golf tournament in the world. 'It would be incredible to be able to compete in another Ryder Cup, especially knowing that in New York, at Bethpage, it's going to be tough and maybe a little experience always comes in handy.'
Irish Times
6 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Tommy Fleetwood continues quest to end long and lucrative winless streak
It's not always all about the money you know, especially when it comes to Tommy Fleetwood , who suffered another heartbreaking loss – this time to Keegan Bradley in The Travelers Championship – in his continuing quest to win on the PGA Tour . Fleetwood has amassed a total of $31,122,462 (€26.9 million) in his winless PGA Tour career, this latest runner-up finish contributing $1.76 million to that haul. But what the Englishman truly wants is for that long-awaited win to come his way after so many near misses, this latest one coming on the back of a closing bogey (his putt on the last diverted at the death by a ball mark) while Bradley birdied on a similar line. Of that winless streak (from 159 starts on the PGA Tour, with six runners-up finishes), Fleetwood remarked: 'Obviously there's a lot of chat about it. I would have loved to have done it today. Search goes on, I guess. When it happens, it will be very, very sweet. 'You know, like in my mind, I've won loads of PGA Tour events, I just haven't done it in reality and I'm sure that time will come if I keep working.' READ MORE One positive upshot for Fleetwood following his runner-up finish to Bradley is that he has moved up five places to second on Europe's Ryder Cup standings for the match against the United States in Bethpage in September. Power needs a surge in form Séamus Power – forced to withdraw from the recent Canadian Open due to injury, having also been forced out of the US Open final qualifying – returns to tournament action at this week's Rocket Mortgage tournament, where he is the lone Irish player in the field. Currently 118th on the FedEx Cup standings, Power will need to find some form in an inconsistent season to date – in his 15 tournaments so far he has made seven cuts, with four top-25s, but also missed seven, as well as having to make that withdrawal. He has to play his way into the top 100 to retain his full tour card. Dubliner Conor Purcell is the lone Irishman in the field at the Italian Open at Monte Argentario while there are five Irish players – Lauren Walsh, Anna Foster, Annabel Wilson, Canice Screen and Olivia Mehaffey – in the field at the Amundi German Masters on the Ladies European Tour. By the Numbers: 9 Bradley's win in The Travelers has moved him to ninth in the US Ryder Cup standings and leaves him poised to become the first playing captain since Arnold Palmer in 1963. 'This changes the story a little bit. I never would have thought about playing if I hadn't won. This definitely opens the door to play.' Minjee Lee after winning the KPMG Women's PGA Championship 2025 at Fields Ranch East at PGA Frisco on Sunday. Photograph:Word of Mouth 'It's brutal out there when it comes to the set-up of the golf course, wind conditions, everything ... I mean, I think we played a two ball in like six hours. That's just a little ridiculous, but, what can you do?' – world number one Nelly Korda on the difficulty of the conditions and the course set-up at PGA Frisco in Texas for the KPMG Women's PGA Championship. Minjee Lee of Australia – one of only three players to finish under par – won her third career Major title. Leona Maguire snapped a run of four missed cuts to finish in tied-19th, which moved her to 57th on the LPGA Tour season's standings. Maguire's payday saw her break the $5 million mark in career earnings on the LPGA Tour. On this day: June 24th, 1979 Lee Trevino won his third Canadian Open at the Jack Nicklaus-designed Glen Abbey course in Ontario when he took advantage of an untypical final round collapse from Tom Watson. Super Mex claimed his first win of the season on the PGA Tour and the 22nd of his career with a final-round 71 for a total of three-under-par 281 in unlikely fashion when Watson – who'd held a three-stroke advantage through 54 holes – suffered a triple-bogey six on the par-3 sixth hole that opened the door for Trevino. On that par-3 Watson put his tee shot in the water and, after taking a penalty drop, proceeded to hit his next shot into a hazard and would ultimately card a six. On the back nine, Watson then suffered three successive bogeys from the 12th to 14th. Trevino had three shots to spare over runner-up Ben Crenshaw while Watson had to settle for third. The win was notable for Trevino in that the $63,000 pay-day moved him past $2 million in career earnings, joining Nicklaus in achieving such a milestone: 'Now I'm going for $3 million. There's always a goal, always something else to try for.' Social Swing Another week, another W for #TeamSrixon @Keegan_Bradley gets it done at The Travelers Championship! – Srixon on a bit of a streak, Bradley's win backing up JJ Spaun's US Open success. Thumbs up for going bogey free all tournament! Hopefully next time a few more birdies will drop @CzechLadiesOpen @LETgolf Lots of positives to take from the last couple of weeks on the road! – Lauren Walsh on not dropping a shot all tournament in the Czech Open, where she finished tied-31st in a tournament won by South African Casandra Alexander. The Kildare golfer is 12th on the LET standings and is in the field for this week's Amundi German Masters in advance of next week's KPMG Irish Women's Open at Carton House, where she is the touring professional. 72 again today. 7 over, tied 53rd. I only hit 71 times as I also incurred a penalty for marking and picking up my ball to place it. There was no placing today after the first two days with placing. I hit it better on the range afterwards so hopefully better days ahead – Pádraig Harrington following the Kaulig Championship won by Miguel Angel Jimenez, the Spaniard's fourth win of the season. Harrington will be hoping for better form at this week's US Seniors Open at Colorado Springs, where Darren Clarke is also competing. In the Bag: Minjee Lee (KPMG Women's PGA Championship) Driver: Callaway Elyte 10.5 w/Mitsubishi Diamana WB 50R 3-wood: Callaway Elyte 3HL 16.5 w/Fujikura Ventus Red 6R 7-wood: Callaway Elyte 21 w/Fujikura Ventus Red 6R Irons: Srixon MK2 (4), Callaway XF 24 (5-PW) Wedges: Callaway Opus (52, 56 and 60 degrees) Putter: Odyssey Ai-One Cruiser 7 CS Broomstick Know the Rules Q: When lifting a ball to see if it is cut or cracked, a player may clean the ball to the extent that is needed to see if it is cut or cracked. True or false? A: False. When a ball is lifted from a part of the course other than a putting green to see if it is cut or cracked, cleaning is not allowed (see Rules 14.1c and 4.2c).
BBC News
23-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Fleetwood's stumble gives US Bradley-sized Ryder Cup headache
As Tommy Fleetwood continues to wrestle with how to get over the winning line on the PGA Tour, American golf is trying to fathom how having a playing captain might work at this year's Ryder issues were brought into sharp focus by Keegan Bradley's dramatic victory over Fleetwood at the Travellers Championship in Connecticut last Sunday. It was the Englishman's sixth runner-up finish on the US-based circuit and this one "hurts".A stumbled on the home stretch to let in his tall, broad-shouldered American opponent for a win that emphasises a growing feeling that he should return to the US Ryder Cup playing roster for this September's match against Europe at the contest was next week, Bradley's inclusion as a player would be a no brainer. Indeed, even with high golfing summer to come, he has already done enough to warrant selection from his captain this He is the might he leave out if he has to pick himself? And is it possible in the modern era to do both jobs well enough to be successful at both?They are huge questions that could easily undermine the American effort amid an expected cacophony on Long Island in New York. Cool heads will be required amid a pressure packed and passionately partisan din. 'Bradley remains a bizarre selection' This was always a potential dilemma from the moment, a year ago, that the 39-year-old became a shock selection to lead America's quest to regain that precious pot of the Ryder Cup is a much bigger entity than it was in 1963 when Arnold Palmer was the last playing those days they played morning and afternoon on each of the three days and Palmer played all six sessions, winning four points, in an overall 23-9 victory. It was routine stuff that barely resonated beyond the golf modern Ryder Cup is one of the biggest and most trancsendent sporting events on the planet. Captaincy is all consuming; potentially contentious and controversial and often pivotal to the final is exhausting too. Combining both roles effectively seems nigh on impossible. Or at least it was thought to be until Bradley got the call from the PGA of America's then boss Seth Waugh last year."We want you to be the first playing captain since Palmer," was the gist of Waugh's stunning call to a player who had been cruelly overlooked as a player for the 2023 defeat in was and remains a bizarre selection, a reflection that with Tiger Woods wanting to wait for the 2027 match, the US cupboard of candidates was bare."In my opinion there is just no way that you could be a captain nowadays of a Ryder Cup or a Presidents Cup and play," said Trevor Immelman after commentating for television on Bradley's latest victory."There are so many responsibilities at the feet of the captain. So many decisions that have to be made before the tournament and then during the week."You want your players to be single-minded, focused on themselves. To be focused on the high pressure situation they are in."But now you've got a guy in Keegan Bradley, who absolutely should be playing."South African Immelman captained the International team in the 2022 Presidents Cup and is in charge of the official world rankings which have Bradley riding high at number seven with only five Americans ahead of if you think the OWGR is compromised by the LIV induced split in the men's game, Data Golf, which reflects all tours, currently puts only four Americans above the US captain. He lies ninth on the qualifying list for the 12-man team."You cannot even start an argument with me trying to explain that he is not among the 12 best American golfers," Immelman added."So they're in a tough spot. The water's just got a little murky for them, because how does he not play, right now?"Bradley insists there is planning in place for this situation, saying he would be a playing captain who would lean heavily on his those only Jim Furyk has captaincy credence with the relatively inexperienced Kevin Kisner, Webb Simpson and Brandt Snedeker in the background. It is a far from ideal situation. Fleetwood a different animal at Ryder Cup Europe, meanwhile, have the inspirational and analytical Luke Donald watching on, no doubt wondering whether he can exploit all this uncertainty to help land a rare away has witnessed a series of European wins on American soil this year from the likes of Rory McIlroy (three times including the Players and Masters), Ludvig Aberg, Sepp Straka (twice), Thomas Detry and Viktor Fleetwood should have added to the list at TPC River Highlands last week after dominating the Signature Event until suffering two bogeys in the last three certainty of his game that had garnered a winning position evaporated on the closing stretch and he three putted from off the front of the final green to allow Bradley his birdie chance for atmosphere was akin to a Ryder Cup. The galleries were packed; Bradley, the local hero who is accompanied by vociferous chants of "U-S-A, U-S-A" wherever he plays, was emphasised his playing credentials for late September by slotting home from slightly shorter range than where Fleetwood had missed on a near identical line. Heartbreak for over the line is never easy but the Englishman seems to find it harder than most for a man of his undoubted and considerable ball-striking has top-five finishes in all four majors but while he has won seven times on the DP World Tour in a 15-year career, this is the closest he has come to breaking his duck on US the key moments his putting becomes tentative when for other world class talents it tends to be clinical. There is a considerable hurdle to be leapt for him to graduate to the glory that is commensurate with the rest of his golfing happily from a European point of view he is a different animal in the Ryder Cup, where matchplay dictates positivity on the greens. He won four out of five points in Paris on debut in years ago he won three points out of four and calmly secured the winning moment against Rickie Fowler in the cauldron of an ever tightening final day in in the 2021 record trouncing by 19 points to 9 at Whistling Straits, Fleetwood was beaten only once in his three will be thrilled to have him on his team again this year where he is likely to resume a successful partnership with some ways, Fleetwood is a modern equivalent to former Ryder Cup rocks Colin Montgomerie and Lee Westwood, who individually never quite fulfilled their potential in the biggest events but were usually men possessed in European chance Fleetwood clashing with Bradley again this autumn in the bear pit of Bethpage? What a delicious prospect and despite Sunday's defeat, the Southport native remains one of eight worldwide players above Bradley on the Data Golf was on the losing side the last time there was an away win, at Medinah in 2012, and lost again at Gleneagles in the following has not played for the US Ryder Cup team since, but he likely will this time and as the captain. No-one could be more is a scenario that might inspire, but the overall demands could inhibit. And if they do, Fleetwood and co could capitalise.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
US captain Bradley open to Ryder Cup playing role
Keegan Bradley has won the Travelers Championship twice in three years [Getty Images] US captain Keegan Bradley says he will have a "hard look" at whether he should play in September's Ryder Cup after his dramatic one-shot victory in the Travelers Championship on Sunday. Bradley, 39, birdied the last hole of his final round in Connecticut to deny England's Tommy Fleetwood his first PGA Tour title. Advertisement Victory moved him seventh in the world rankings and ninth in the American Ryder Cup qualification standings. The top six in the latter qualify automatically for the event in Bethpage, New York, with another six players given captain's picks. Arnold Palmer was the Ryder Cup's last playing captain, when he led the US team aged 34 in 1963. "It's still June so we have got a long way to go [but] this definitely changes things a little bit," said Bradley - the youngest captain since Palmer. "This definitely opens the door to play. I don't know if I'm going to do it or not but I certainly have to take a pretty hard look at what's best for the team. Advertisement "Every year I was out here, I wanted to play on the Ryder Cup team, and then this would be the first year where maybe I didn't want to. I just wanted to be the captain and, of course, this is what happens." Bradley's most recent Ryder Cup appearance was in the defeat at Gleneagles in 2014, having also played on the losing side two years earlier. He missed out on a place in 2023 when Justin Thomas, who was below him on the points list and struggling for form, was preferred by captain Zach Johnson Bradley was named captain this time after Tiger Woods turned down the opportunity. He insisted he would not give up the captaincy if he did make the team but could take on a dual role with the help of vice-captains Webb Simpson, Brandt Snedeker, Kevin Kisner and Jim Furyk. Advertisement "I never really planned on playing," he said. "Now, with the amazing vice-captains I have, I feel a lot more comfortable if I went that route. "I had this epiphany at the PGA Championship when I was getting these loud 'USA' cheers. "I don't think any player in the history of the game has experienced what I'm experiencing in that I'm a Ryder Cup captain, in my eyes still one of the best players in the world trying to win majors and tournaments, coming down the stretch of a tournament." Bradley said when he was asked to be captain, the first thing the PGA of America told him was they wanted him to be the first playing captain since Palmer. Advertisement "My head was spinning," he said. "I didn't know what they were talking about, but they knew that was a possibility and that we would have things in place for that. "A year ago I don't know if I would have thought I would be seventh in the world but I certainly thought I would be contending in tournaments." How can Bradley play at the Ryder Cup? The top six players following the BMW Championship on 17 August 2025 will automatically qualify for the US team. World number four Justin Thomas is sixth in the US Ryder Cup rankings on 9,997.69 points, with Bradley ninth on 7845.22. Advertisement Bradley has the opportunity to boost his rankings with 10 more tournaments to be held before the deadline, including the year's final major - The Open at Portrush. Players making the cut receive one point per $1,000 earned at Tour events, which rises to 1.5 points per $1,000 earned at the Open. The other six players in the US Ryder Cup team will be chosen by Bradley as captains' pick. These are announced in August following the Tour Championship, which finishes on 24 August. If Bradley does not qualify automatically, he could in theory pick himself. Captain's picks were introduced for Team Europe in 1979 and for the US in 1989.
Daily Record
22-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Keegan Bradley faces increasing Ryder Cup headache on special Bethpage anniversary
United States captain can seal a second Travalers win and edge close to making his own team Keegan Bradley could celebrate his Ryder Cup anniversary in stunning style and land himself the biggest Bethpage headache of the lot. The United States captain is bang in the mix to win the Travelers Championship for a second time going into the final round at TPC River Highlands. Bradley won his local tournament in Hartford two years ago and, 12 months on from taking the call from the PGA of America to offer the Ryder Cup role, he can double up in Connecticut. If he does, however, win the Signature Event for a second time, he will sweep closer to the automatic qualification spots and the calls for him to play alongside the likes of World No.1 Scottie Scheffler in New York against Rory McIlroy -led Europe and not just be skipper would reach a fever-pitched crescendo. Bradley is fully aware of the background noise accompanying the constant 'USA, USA' chanting which he is getting at the Travelers and every week since he was announced the captain and realises he is on the brink of something extremely rare. After a terrific third-round show which left him just three behind Tommy Fleetwood, he said: 'Yeah, pretty strange. I sort of have come to this epiphany sort of that no one has ever experienced what I'm going through right now. "Arnold Palmer did in 1962 I think it was, but for the most part captains are done playing or at the end of their career or playing the Champions Tour. So it's pretty cool, I'm experiencing something that not a lot of people have. 'I try to enjoy the moments more, look around a little more, look in the crowd. It's funny, I try so hard to not think about playing, but they remind me every hole. "Tomorrow [Sunday] is the year anniversary of getting the call for the Ryder Cup, so pretty crazy that we're a year out, but special day, could be even better.' Bradley's 63 on Saturday was an impressive as any of the Americans looking to make his side and a seventh PGA Tour title is within reach. He added: 'It took me awhile to figure out how to play here in my home event and pressing and trying so hard. Now it's just about my 15th time and much more ready for the challenge, I guess you could say. "Today was just one of those days when everything feels great. I hit the ball good, putted great, felt comfortable all day, which is rare. I felt really, really great. 'Friday, I was uncomfortable on every shot I hit. I don't know why. Even just like easy shots, easy chips, easy putts. Then today I felt really comfortable on every shot. That doesn't happen often. Three back, which is a fun spot to be in. I'm going to have to go out and shoot a low score, but you can do it around here. Just hit the ball in the fairway, take care of the par-fives and you can do it. 'When you play a course you got to make birdies it brings a different challenge. You can't have a stretch of one-over par for seven holes or you lose a million shots. "So in some aspects it's difficult just like a hard course would be. I've got to go out there and get off to a good start, so sometimes that can be difficult. You just got to be patient and there's birdies out there. You've got to make them.'
