Keegan Bradley declared: ““We are gonna go to Bethpage to kick their ******* ass” in explosive message to his team-mates in new Netflix documentary
Shane Lowry has become the first European star to react to US captain Keegan Bradley’s fiery Ryder Cup speech and said: “Oh yeah. We’ve all seen it.”
The American skipper’s motivational message was filmed during celebrations for last year’s Presidents Cup for the new Netflix Full Swing series.
The 2011 US PGA champion, a surprise pick to lead the US team in New York, told his team-mates: “We are gonna go to Bethpage to kick their ******* ass.” The X-rated footage was the talk of the build-up to the Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches which starts on Thursday. Asked if he’d seen the clip, Shane Lowry smile and said: “Oh yeah. We’ve all seen it.”
The Irishman later told Golf Channel’s Golf Today: “Obviously, I saw it. Look, they’re going to be fired up to go beat us. Keegan is going to be a great captain, and we’re under no illusion that [he won’t be]; we’re certainly not going to doubt him. And I’m sure Luke Donald is going to prepare his team as best he can, and we’ll give it a go when it comes to it.”
Vice captain and 2018 hero Francesco Molinari added: “It’s not a big deal. Those things happen all the time. I can understand why Keegan did it. We love to win. They love to win. What Keegan said, was not out of bounds.”
Donald’s European team claimed back the Ryder Cup with a 16.5-11.5 win in Rome in September 2023. There has been only one away win in the event since 2004 – the Miracle in Medinah in 2012.
The crowd atmospheres at subsequent Ryder Cups at Hazeltine and Whistling Straits have been raucous – and the noise level promises to be dialled up at Bethpage Black on Long Island. And passion spilled over in the Italian capital when Rory McIlroy confronted Patrick Cantlay’s caddie on the final green on Saturday – and then had to be ushered into a car by Lowry as the row escalated in the car park
And Bradley, 38, gave notice he will tap into the fervent support in the emotional aftermath of the 10th consecutive win over the International Team in Montreal.
The world No.15 had played superbly to nail a long putt to win his match on the opening day and then sealed the winning point on Sunday.
And in a finger-pointing speech, he showed the passion he will bring to the US team this September. “I’m gonna get criticised as the captain next year,” he said. “They’re gonna underestimate me. They’re going to doubt me.”
“I’ve been doubted my whole ******* life. That’s when I do my best work. We are gonna go to Bethpage to kick their ******* ass.”