Rory McIlroy admitted that the announcement of Keegan Bradley as US Ryder Cup captain in Bethpage Black next year took some players by surprise when Luke Donald revealed the news.
McIlroy was present at a dinner in London on Sunday night with a handful of members from Europe’s victorious Ryder Cup side in Rome last September including their skipper Donald who broke the news at the table.
Bradley(38) will become the youngest captain for the US since Arnold Palmer at 34 years of age at East Lake in 1963 and while there is the possibility that he could become a playing captain in just over twelve months time this certainly represents a shift in approach from the United States.
“I think a surprise for everyone. We had dinner in London on Sunday night with Luke, and he told us then. Yeah, it’s an interesting appointment,” said McIlroy after the opening round of the Scottish Open.
“The youngest captain since Arnold Palmer I think was a playing captain as 34. But he knows Bethpage very well. He went to university in the area. He’s obviously very passionate about the Ryder Cup.
“Yeah, I mean, it’s certainly a departure from what the U.S. have done over the last few years, and you know, time will tell if that’s a good thing or not.
“I think disbelief, probably. I think Keegan was probably in disbelief, at some point, too, but certainly an interesting pick.”
Bradley hasn’t ruled himself out of playing in the Ryder Cup but McIlroy who will be 38 when the centenary Ryder Cup is staged in Adare Manor does not believe it is possible to play and captain in the modern era.
“No,” McIlroy told Golf Channel when asked about being a playing captain in three years’ time where Justin Rose is the current favourite.
“Absolutely not. I’ve contemplated it for Adare and there’s too much work that goes into it.
“I’ve seen what Luke (Donald) went through preparing for Rome. There’s no way you can be as good a captain as you need to be and be playing as well.”
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