'Leading by Example': Mickelson Praises Bradley’s Approach to Team USA

Phil Mickelson has voiced his support for U.S. Captain Keegan Bradley and praised the 39-year-old for the way he has handled the responsibility of leading Team USA into the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black. This comes after Bradley announced his six captain’s picks, leaving out himself to focus on his leadership responsibilities.

Mickelson Says Bradley Was “As Classy as the King”

Mickelson has played in 12 Ryder Cups and is one of the most experienced American golfers of all time. The 55-year-old revealed he has been impressed by Bradley’s leadership style, particularly the decision not to select himself as a playing captain despite being in solid form.

Bradley’s decision came after a strong year on the PGA Tour, during which he recorded several top finishes and continued to show that he could still compete at the highest level. Many fans expected him to include himself on the roster, but instead, Bradley chose to step aside and focus fully on his role as captain.

“Keegan did a great job today and was as classy as the king. He’s leading by example and is showing why he’s a great choice to lead this team,” Mickelson posted on X.

Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, and Ben Griffin occupied the 7th to 9th position in the qualification standings and were all named as Captain’s picks. They were joined by Cam Young, Patrick Cantlay and Sam Burns as the other three Captain’s pick to round out the American side which already comprised automatic qualifiers Scottie Scheffler, JJ Spaun, Xander Schauffele, Russell Henley, Harris English and Bryson DeChambeau.

Mickelson Convinced Bradley Is The Right Captain For Team US

Bradley’s decision to leave himself out has led to debate in some quarters. The World No. 11, who has enjoyed a standout season with six top-10 finishes and a victory at the Travelers Championship, had many expecting him to name himself as a playing captain. But the 39-year-old decided against it. Had he done so, he would have revived a tradition not seen in over six decades, when Arnold Palmer last served as a playing captain.