Keegan Bradley weirdly revealed that he has not opened his suitcase since losing the Ryder Cup 11 years ago following his Team USA snub on Tuesday.
The 37-year-old had failed to qualify for one of the six automatic qualifying spots, finishing 11th in the standings, meaning his fate was left in the hands of captain Zach Johnson.
But Bradley, a self-proclaimed outsider, was left out once again when Johnson announced his six captain’s picks, including controversial choice Justin Thomas.
And the New England native doesn’t appear to be taking it too well. Bradley took to Instagram where he appeared to lament missing out on the chance to win the Ryder Cup for the USA, bizarrely sharing that he hasn’t opened his suitcase since participating in the 2012 edition.
‘This is my suitcase from 2012 Ryder cup that I haven’t opened since that Sunday. I promised myself I wouldn’t open it till I won a Ryder cup,’ Bradley shared alongside of the Team USA embossed piece of luggage.
Keegan Bradley revealed that he has not opened his suitcase since losing the 2012 Ryder Cup
The 37-year-old took to Instagram after not being selected as one of Zach Johnson’s picks
The New England native was part of the US team that collapsed at the 2012 Ryder Cup
‘That week changed my perspective on golf forever. The Ryder Cup suddenly became very important to me. During that week I had some of my best memories coupled with some of my darkest in my golf career.
‘I’m proud of the effort I put in to make this amazing team over a decade later. But it wasn’t meant to be. All of the support has been amazing, but it’s time now to get behind this US team. I’m gonna be watching and pulling as hard as I can for them! GOUSA.’
Bradley was a member of Davis Love III’s USA team which infamously collapsed during the final day singles matches, leading to Europe’s Miracle of Medinah.
He automatically qualified for the team that year, occupying the fourth spot out of eight behind Tiger Woods, Bubba Watson and Jason Dufner.
Bradley won the Travelers Championship and the Zozo Championship this season but his two victories weren’t enough to convince Johnson to take him to Rome.
Instead, the US captain opted for Thomas, Brooks Koepka, Collin Morikawa, Rickie Fowler, Jordan Spieth and Sam Burns to join his six automatic qualifiers to take on Europe at Marco Simone.
The six qualifiers for Team USA had already been locked in following the BMW Championship with Xander Schauffele squeezing into the final spot, joining Scottie Scheffler, Wyndham Clark, Brian Harman, Patrick Cantlay and Max Homa.
‘I’ve always been an outsider in the sport but I have tried to get closer to the guys I thought would be on the team,’ Bradley told Golf Channel’s Tom Lewis.
USA captain Zach Johnson unveiled his wild card picks to face Europe in Rome next month
Justin Thomas was a surprise selection from Johnson after his recent run of poor form
‘I feel like moving forward I’m going to have to automatically qualify for the Ryder Cup … I am pulling for the U.S. team.’
Despite hailing Thomas as a ‘generational talent,’ the snub clearly stung for Bradley.
Thomas comes as a questionable pick with Johnson choosing to overlook the two-time major winner’s recent poor form, which saw him miss out on the PGA Tour’s end-of season playoffs.
However, Johnson defended his pick, insisting he could not leave Thomas at home.
‘He has, without question, been the heart and soul of Team USA,’ Johnson said. ‘Our emotional leader. He leads by example. His passion for the Ryder Cup is very evident. In my mind, he was born for this, and you just don’t leave JT at home.’
Johnson could be looking to bank on Thomas’s experience with the 30-year-old having a 6-2-1 record in Ryder Cup action. He took two and a half points from four matches at Whistling Straits in 2021.
‘I did put a lot on pressure on myself to make this team because it means so much to me,’ Thomas said. ‘But it was a valuable learning experience for me. I’ll use it going forward. You can want something too badly, and there’s times this season I did. I’m very, very fortunate to be here.’
Johnson will likely also look to rekindle the ready-made, successful partnership between childhood pals Thomas and Spieth.
Johnson will likely also look to rekindle the ready-made partnership of Thomas and Spieth
Bradley had said the 24 hours following the Tour Championship would be ‘hell’ before he left East Lake Sunday.
‘Hopefully I get a chance to play on this team,’ Bradley said. ‘If I don’t, I’m going to be rooting hard. In years’ past it’s been really hard for me to watch the Ryder Cup, because I just haven’t been in the conversation to be on the team. But this year, if I don’t make the team, it will be different. I’ll watch, and I’ll be pulling for the guys just as if I was playing.’
The USA secured a dominant victory over Europe at Whistling Straits in 2021 but heads to Marco Simone Golf and Country Club seeking its first victory on European soil in 30 years.
European captain Luke Donald’s team is yet to be finalized but heavyweights Rory McIlroy, Masters champion Jon Rahm, FedEx Cup champion Hovland and Tyrrell Hatton are already locked in.