MEDINAH, Ill. — They could’ve celebrated and trophy-presented in one of the porta-potties for all Keegan Bradley could’ve cared.
Graciously for him, they chose the 14th green, which sounds a bit funky, until you remember they moved up holes this week at the Presidents Cup. And the 14th hole at Medinah Country Club is actually the 18th hole.
Where 14 years ago, Bradley felt flushed.
It was there, at the 2012 Ryder Cup, where the end came for Bradley’s U.S. team in what’s become known as the Miracle at Medinah. That year, the Americans entered the final day up a convincing 10-6 only to see the Euros win singles match after singles match and fall.
So this year meant a chance at some redemption. Picked as captain for the ’26 Presidents Cup was Brandt Snedeker, who was on the ’12 squad, and he selected a trio of his former teammates to be vice captains — Jim Furyk, Webb Simpson and, yes, Bradley. Who’s also gone through a personal hell with the Ryder Cup, having lost it as a player in 2012 and 2014, then again last year, as a captain.
So yes, he said Sunday night, the proceedings here felt sublime after the U.S. rallied from a 10.5-7.5 deficit on its way to winning 17-13.
“Today was a much-needed day for me personally,” Bradley said. “… I really care for everybody in this room. Last year was a tough year with what happened at the Ryder Cup, but to be able to come here and experience this day — I told Webb and Brandt on the mic, and Jim, we experienced a really horrible moment on that 14th green in 2012, and today we got to experience one of the happiest moments of my golf career.
“I’m so proud of all the guys. I’m so happy that Brandt gets to be a winning Presidents Cup captain. … The thing about this team is they are such incredible people, and it doesn’t matter how many points they’re down, they’re going to fight till the very end. We knew this was going to get close, and I’m just extremely proud of them.”
Also deeply involved in this year’s Presidents Cup is Furyk, who next year will captain the Americans a second time at the Ryder Cup. On Sunday night after the Presidents Cup win, a reporter asked him if there were any lessons learned that he’d take into the months ahead.
He said there were. He also hoped the Americans would celebrate.
“I’ve seen a lot of lineups; I’ve seen a lot of team rooms. I think you’re always learning,” Furyk said. “I’m always trying to find ways, new ideas. We had some new people in the room this year. Always sharing ideas, always trying to learn, always trying to be a calming influence.
“I said it all along, I want — first of all, I want these guys to really enjoy what they just did today. Walking into a Sunday three points down, having a lot of pressure, playing like they had nothing to lose, going out there and showing off for these fans, getting them into it, I really want them to enjoy what they did today because it’s pretty darn special.
