GOLF
Who is Keegan Bradley? How many golf titles has he won?
The man from Vermont has been getting a lot of attention lately, and will now captain Team USA for the 2025 Ryder Cup.
Bethpage in Framingdale, New York, is the venue for the The Ryder Cup in September 2025 and Team USA will be desperate to avenge Europe’s 16.5-11.5 triumph from 2023. The decisions made by each team’s captain can prove crucial in clinching the much sought after trophy, and while Luke Donald was already confirmed for the Europeans some time ago, it wasn’t until Monday 8 July when the official announcement for the Stars and Stripes came through.
Keegan Bradley named 2025 US Ryder Cup captain
The legend that is Tiger Woods had been hotly tipped to be named as team leader but he was quickly removed from the conversation, and the name of Keegan Bradley jumped to the front of the queue. Then, as quickly as the rumours began, news came through that he had indeed been handed the role. So who is he?
Meet Keegan Bradley
Born on June 7, 1986, in Woodstock, Vermont, Keegan Hansen Bradley stepped into the world where golf was a family legacy. With his father, Mark Bradley, being a professional golfer and his aunt, Pat Bradley, a legendary figure in women’s golf, it’s no surprise that Keegan found his calling on the greens. An all-state ski racer during his youth, Bradley pivoted to golf during his teenage years and was already catching the eye at NYC’s St. John’s University, where he won nine collegiate events before graduating in 2008, which was also when he turned professional.
Two years honing his skills on various tours proved beneficial as by 2010 he finished 14th on the money list, securing his PGA Tour card for the following season. In 2011, Bradley made a stunning debut on the PGA Tour, winning the HP Byron Nelson Championship and the prestigious PGA Championship. His victory at the PGA Championship was particularly historic, as he became only the third player ever to win a major on their first attempt, joining the ranks of Francis Ouimet and Ben Curtis. This achievement also marked the first major win with a long putter, and as mentor Phil Mickelson is given some of the credit for the victory.
Keegan Bradley and the Ryder Cup
Bradley’s prowess on the tour didn’t stop there; in 2012, he clinched the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, placing him among the elite few to have won both a major and a WGC event. After a brief dry spell, he returned to winning ways at the BMW Championship in 2018. His professional record reads: six career wins, 11 runners-up, two third places. He has made the cut 265 out of 347 times.
He appeared in the Ryder Cup teams of 2012 and 2014, losing both, the first in Medinah and then at Gleneagles.
Who is Keegan Bradley married to? Does he have children?
Off the course, Bradley is a dedicated family man, having married Jillian Stacey in 2016 with a wedding guest list that read like a who’s who of golf. The couple has two children. A hardcore sports enthusiast, Bradley cheers for the Boston Celtics, Boston Red Sox, and New England Patriots, having stated that his dream golf foursome would be with his father, Ben Hogan, and Patriots legend, Tom Brady.
An interesting aside to his personal life is that he’s also a close friend of basketball legend Michael Jordan, frequently spotted in Air Jordans during tournaments. Remember the two of them, along with Brady played some ball together.
What are Keegan Bradley’s career earnings?
As of 2023, Keegan Bradley has amassed over $41 million in career earnings, with his best financial year occurring in 2023 when he earned just over $9 million. His endorsements are equally impressive, boasting partnerships with Srixon, Cleveland Golf, and Putnam Investments and his golf bag is a mix of TaylorMade, Titleist, and Srixon clubs.