Keegan Bradley has opened up about the awkward mistake he made during the Ryder Cup opening ceremony at Bethpage Black, admitting that a shout from the crowd caused his slip-up.
The Team USA captain was speaking passionately on Wednesday about why the Ryder Cup has always held a special place in his heart. But in trying to share a personal story, Bradley confused two of golf’s biggest names, leaving Europe’s Justin Rose momentarily baffled.
“The Ryder Cup became personal for me in 1999 at Brookline,” Bradley told the packed New York crowd. “I was 13 years old, perched on my dad’s shoulders, watching Justin Rose’s miracle putt drop on 17. When the crowd erupted on 18, my dad let me join in on the celebration. That was the moment golf stopped being a game and started being a calling. That day changed my life.”
The problem? Rose, sitting just a few yards away, hadn’t even been part of that famous moment. Bradley had meant to reference Justin Leonard, the American whose long-range putt on the 17th green turned the tide and sealed Team USA’s dramatic victory at The Country Club in 1999.
The mix-up created an awkward hush across the ceremony, with Rose clearly caught off guard by the mistaken credit.
Speaking later at a press conference, Bradley clarified what happened:
“No, a mistake on the Justin Rose. Somebody yelled out Justin Rose right before I read it and said it. I didn’t even know until I was done. Honest mistake.”
Despite the embarrassing moment, Bradley quickly shifted focus to the contest ahead. He and European captain Luke Donald revealed their foursomes pairings for Friday’s opening matches, with play beginning at 7:10 a.m. ET. Bradley has stacked his lineup with big names including Scottie Scheffler and Bryson DeChambeau, and he couldn’t hide his excitement.
“We are really happy we’ve gotten to this point,” Bradley said. “It feels like we were waiting a year and a half for this moment, and now that we see the matchups on paper and know we’re going out tomorrow to play, it’s an incredible feeling.”
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