[Music] Zack Johnson recalls the joyous phone call
offering Keegan Bradley the US Rider cup captaincy Zack Johnson's heart was beating fast
again I was getting ready to deliver a bomb he said of news that would shock the golf world less
than one year ago as us Ridder Cup Captain Johnson had to break the bad news to Keegan Bradley that
Johnson was going in a different direction and Bradley wouldn't be a member of the 12-man team
to represent Team USA in Rome Johnson didn't use one of his captains picks on Bradley and chose
Ricky Fowler and Justin Thomas who finished below Bradley in points this time Johnson got to deliver
the good news the Ryder Cup committee had selected Bradley to be the captain of the 2025 us team the
last time I called you on the phone was one of the more difficult phone calls I've ever had Johnson
recall as his first words to Bradley on June 23rd Keegan wasn't the only one I had to call you know
and Keegan to know one surprise specifically mine was nothing but pure respect and class I've
been on that side of the call it's awful it's hard but kean's true character came out right
there Johnson said but then I said I appreciate how you handled that phone call more than you
know because we're friends and he said Zach you don't have to say that you know I've got your back
he's being serious he's being genuine I said just know that this is one of the most honor packed
joyous phone calls I could ever make his fondest memory of informing Bradley that the committee
which included Jordan spy and just and Thomas had picked him for the role was the response
of Bradley's wife I could hear Jillian in the background in a high-pitched voice go what Johnson
said speaking at his press conference announcing his role Bradley said he had just driven home
with his family from The Travelers championship in Cromwell Connecticut on June 23rd when Johnson
and PGA of America CEO Seth W and President John Linder called Bradley shared that W told him you
know your number was called it's time for you to step up when he told me that I sort of it sort of
hit me you know that this is a heavy job and this is a group of people that trusted me in this
and it's time to step up to the plate and be the captain of this team Bradley said at age
30 9 when the banial matches are held at Beth Page black in September 2025 Bradley will be the
youngest captain since Arnold Palmer served as a playing captain at age 34 in 1963 Bradley who is
currently number 21 in the world had been a 2time winner on the tour last season and finished 11th
in the Ryder Cup point standings Johnson said he brought up the possibility of Bradley doing double
duty one of the first things we talked about after we asked Keegan to be the captain Captain was and
I was adamant I said we believe that you can make his team like fully I believe that you can go
out and make his team you can be the first guy on the list Johnson said and we voiced that
but we also have the ability for personnel and people to surround him where that can be
feasible Johnson said his input was valued by the Ryder Cup Committee in the selection process
but he tried to take a backseat until called upon I'm on the committee but I shut up I really
let Jordan and Justin because they're I'd say Ridder cup contemporaries Johnson said and then
some of the PGA Executives it's their tournament they have been nothing but gracious in allowing
the players to have a voice the discussion about the captaincy happened organically and that's how
it evolves Johnson appreciated the pga's gesture to allow him to be the one to let Bradley
know that the job of us Ridder Cup captain belonged to him for 2025 it's one of those phone
calls Johnson said like I've had a lot of phone calls but I'm not going to forget this one this
article originally appeared on golf week Zack Johnson recalls the joyous phone call offering
Keegan Bradley the US Rider cup captaincy the