Ryder Cup 2025: Suzann Pettersen warns Group USA captain Keegan Bradley about splitting function with enjoying at Bethpage Black | Golf Information

Former Solheim Cup captain Suzann Pettersen has warned Keegan Bradley that she would “positively not advocate” him splitting his captaincy function with enjoying on this 12 months’s Ryder Cup.

Bradley moved to world No 7 after his dramatic Vacationers Championship victory on Sunday, his eighth PGA Tour title and third in as many seasons, with the win additionally lifting him to ninth within the qualification standings for Group USA’s Ryder Cup crew.

The 39-year-old admitted his victory will increase the potential of him changing into the primary enjoying captain at a Ryder Cup since Arnold Palmer in 1963, though Pettersen – Group Europe’s captain for the earlier two Solheim Cups – has questioned whether or not it might work.

“It is a very robust activity of being a captain and enjoying on the identical time,” Pettersen informed the Sky Sports activities Golf podcast. “In case you ask me – and particularly being a captain at residence – it should be an unlimited quantity of stress on Keegan Bradley developing.

“I might say both you dedicate your self to being the perfect captain attainable otherwise you go play. I do know again within the day, I feel Arnie [Arnold Palmer] was the final participant that form of captained and performed, however I feel time has modified slightly bit as properly. I do not see that being attainable.

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“He has bought some good vice-captains who might doubtlessly take that function, however that form of takes the enjoyable away from him as properly of being a captain. I might positively not advocate it.”

Bradley at present has Jim Furyk, Kevin Kisner, Webb Simpson and Brandt Snedeker as his 4 vice-captains for this 12 months’s contest, stay from September 26-28 on Sky Sports activities, the place Group USA will look to regain the trophy at Bethpage Black after their 2023 defeat in Rome.

He was a part of the USA’ profitable Presidents Cup crew as a participant final September, the place he secured the purpose that assured victory over the Worldwide Group, with Pettersen admitting will probably be robust for him to resolve what resolution to make over his Ryder Cup function.

“I do not even advocate being a vice-captain and enjoying, as a result of you may’t keep targeted on one factor,” Pettersen added. “In case you’re a participant, your focus must be to deliver factors to the desk and never worrying about pairings and different inner stuff that goes on.

“It is bought to be robust, as a result of he is enjoying the golf of his life. He has by no means been ranked this excessive, so it is bought to be robust to take a scorching identify off the record of gamers. On the identical time, you have to put in your priorities.

“I am positive he is sensible sufficient to make a very good name whether or not he’ll play or not, however time will present. But it surely’s an enormous, large activity to do each concurrently.”

Pettersen had Anna Nordqvist as a enjoying vice-captain throughout her two phrases for Group Europe, the place they retained the trophy in 2023 earlier than dropping in the USA a 12 months later, which she acknowledged needed to be rigorously managed.

“We thought the inclusivity form of main as much as the week was fairly essential, a very good expertise,” Pettersen defined. “Then, because the week progressed, you took increasingly more stress off form of that function and let her moderately take the participant place.

“On the finish of the day, you may’t make it across the golf course all the time having the last-second discussions with every vice-captain in the event that they’re actually on the course enjoying. They’ve sufficient on their desk attempting to deliver their match residence.

“It’s actually what you put together your gamers for. I do know Anna [Nordqvist, 2026 Solheim Cup captain] is now trying into her vice-captains and who she doubtlessly picks and there are positively loads of vice-captains doubtlessly in present gamers.

“On the identical time, is that what you need to go away? You do not need to go away that accountability with the gamers as properly. It is a very high quality line, however it’s bought to be the dynamics within the crew and the dynamics within the captaincies crew.”

Take heed to the complete Suzann Pettersen interview on the newest version of the Sky Sports activities Golf podcast, hosted each week by Jamie Weir. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Spreaker, whereas vodcast editions will be discovered on the Sky Sports activities Golf YouTube channel.