It was always Keegan Bradley.
Playing in the fourth match with Wyndham Clark on Thursday during the four-ball session at the 2024 Presidents Cup, Bradley made his return to team competition for the first time since 2013. This time, he earned his way onto the Presidents Cup team thanks to his victory at the BMW Championship last month in Colorado.
And the fiery Bradley returned with a fire that is needed at these competitions, and it’s a big reason why he was selected to be the Ryder Cup captain next year at Bethpage Black.
Bradley poured in a birdie putt on the closing par-4 18th to clinch he and Clark’s match 1 up against Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Taylor Pendrith. He and Clark weren’t perfect on Thursday at Royal Montreal Golf Club, but as the Internationals missed putts and struggled down the stretch, Bradley put the nail in the coffin on a dominating start by the Americans, a powerful fist pump letting out the frustrations and disappointment of the past decade.
Presidents Cup: Leaderboard | Gala photos | Photos
“It was 10 years of pent up energy, it looks like, of not playing these,” Bradley said. “I just had such a blast out there today. It’s really fun for me to be out here with these guys. I told Wyndham on 17 or 18 just how much I missed being out here and doing this.”
This is the third time the Americans have swept the opening session of the Presidents Cup, and it’s the 10th time they’ve led after the first session. They’ve won every time doing that.
Bradley and Clark were 9 under on their best ball Thursday, the best of any American team. On his own ball, Bradley had five birdies, including on the opening hole
The fieriness of Bradley is needed at events like the Presidents Cup, and he returned with flair on Thursday.
WHAT A PUTT!
A dominant 5-0 session for the U.S. Team is capped off by @Keegan_Bradley‘s emphatic walk-off winner. pic.twitter.com/0OtyMS49Ui
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 26, 2024
When he poured in the closing birdie to clinch the 1-up victory, he let out a massive fist pump, which was one of many during the match. He and Clark had plenty of reasons to celebrate down the stretch.
“This morning when I heard the national Anthem and I was seeing the boys getting ready, I was really emotional. It really took me by surprise,” Bradley said. “There’s been a few times this week where I’ve been emotional about this week. I’ve said I didn’t — there was a point in my life I never thought I’d get to do this again.
“To be able to be out here with a totally new group of guys and guys that really, I’m not afraid to say, I’m 38 years old, and I look up to all these players here. It’s really been an inspiring week for me, on and off the golf course. I just love being around them. They’re funny, they’re fun, and I just am really proud to be in the same room with them playing this tournament.”
Keegan Bradley celebrates with Wyndham Clark after a putt on the 18th green during Thursday’s four-ball matches at the 2024 Presidents Cup at the Royal Montreal Golf Club. (Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
Last year, Netflix cameras captured the heartbreak as Zach Johnson called Bradley to tell him he would not be on the U.S. Ryder Cup team. Bradley still hasn’t unpacked his bag from his lone appearance in that team competition. Then this spring, he was announced as the U.S. captain for the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black.
Before winning the BMW, he was set to be an assistant captain for Jim Furyk at Royal Montreal. Then he won, and this week became about his on-course performance.
That’s exactly what the United States needed.
“I always feel like I’m always trying to suppress my emotions on the golf course, and what I love about this tournament is you’re able to let them out,” Bradley said.
“It’s really just a blast.”