Ryder Cup: Why Brandt Snedeker is strong choice for Keegan Bradley

Team USA’s Ryder Cup captain, Keegan Bradley, made another choice in his leadership team.

He announced that two-time Ryder Cup member Brandt Snedeker would be his next vice captain. The veteran has had a good two weeks as the Tour announced last week that Snedeker won the 2024 Payne Stewart Award.

It is another strong pick from the first-time captain, who announced Webb Simpson as his first vice captain last month. This latest move shows that the United States is doing a full reset regarding its Ryder Cup selections.

Bradley is not going the traditional route when it comes to his leadership team, and honestly, that is what Team USA needs. This group has done the same thing for years, and the 2023 Ryder Cup showed it was past time for a change.

“As I’ve started preparing for the 2025 Ryder Cup, I quickly realized that Brandt was someone I wanted by my side,” Bradley said in the press release. “Having competed in two Ryder Cups, including a stellar individual performance in 2016, Brandt’s experience and insight will surely be beneficial to our team in the months ahead.”

Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images

Although Snedeker has not been a vice-captain before, his demeanor is perfect for the position. Bradley chose experience, but differently, and it is commendable.

He was not kidding when he said in his Ryder Cup press conference that he would take a fresh look at the vice-captains.

So far, Bradley is two-of-two on the picks, though.

Snedeker is a nine-time PGA Tour winner who played on two different Ryder Cup teams in 2012 and 2016. He also played on the winning 2013 Presidents Cup team.

The veteran has a 4-2-0 career record in Ryder Cups. He went 3-0-0 in 2016 at Hazeltine National when Team America won 17-11 over Team Europe. Snedeker was the only undefeated American that week.

“The Ryder Cup is unlike anything in our sport, and I hope to bring the passion and pride to help Keegan deliver his vision of what a Ryder Cup in New York should look like,” Snedeker said.

“I am excited to serve alongside my good friend Webb and know we will do everything in our power to help Keegan and the players be ready for a great competition next September at Bethpage Black.”

He has been around the Tour a long time and probably has ideas for what this team should look like. The 46-year-old brings wisdom to the leadership team and experience without it feeling too biased.

Team USA needs something fresh, and so far, Bradley continues to deliver just that.

Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. For more golf coverage, follow us @_PlayingThrough on all major social platforms. You can also follow her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @golf_girl_sl.