Keegan Bradley furious as Ryder Cup setup at Bethpage Black sparks huge backlash

Some of his captain’s picks were called into question as well, including Morikawa and Sam Burns. But it wasn’t just about player selections. Bradley’s impact went beyond who played in each session.

The setup at Bethpage Black drew heavy criticism during the Ryder Cup, particularly for how soft the course played compared to its usual reputation. Dan Rapaport addressed this on his Dan on Golf Podcast, highlighting how unrecognisable it was compared to past major championships held there.

Rapaport said: “Keegan Bradley was asked what he would do differently, and the number one thing was the way the golf course was set up.”

“I don’t know why they had the tournament at Bethpage Black if it was side about that. I say this without exaggeration, distance aside, Bethpage Black played harder when you and your buddies camped out to play the golf course. It was actually unrecognizable, it was actually jarring to see.”

Rapaport added: “J.J. Spaun hit a five-wood from the middle of the fairway and it stopped where it landed, it was crazy.”

Keegan Bradley to blame for Ryder Cup Beatdown at Bethpage

The decision to set up Bethpage Black as easily as they did turned out to be a costly error for Team USA. While Bradley pointed to rain and softer conditions as issues, he played a role in removing any real penalty by having rough cut down.

This approach neutralised some of America’s key strengths. Scottie Scheffler is known for his driving accuracy, while players like J.J. Spaun, Russell Henley, and Collin Morikawa tend to excel on courses that reward precise ball striking.