Keegan Bradley is as competitive as they come, but there’s one altercation he will always look back on with regret.
The 38-year-old is part of Jim Furyk’s U.S. team for the 2024 Presidents Cup in Montreal where they face an international team featuring Hideki Matsuyama, Adam Scott and Sungjae Im.
Bradley’s insatiable will to win also made him a logical pick to become the United States’ 31st Ryder Cup captain when he leads the team into battle against Europe in 2025.
However, there was one moment when Bradley’s spirit boiled over the edge.
In 2015, Bradley was up against Spanish golfer Miguel Angel Jimenez in the third round of the World Golf Championships at TPC Harding Park.
Their duel came to a head on the 18th hole when Bradley’s tee shot went wayward and landed by a fence that walled off a production area, from which players were granted a drop.
But Bradley’s drop from there then landed on a golf cart path, prompting him further relief.
However, Jimenez protested Bradley’s latest drop and seemingly reminded the American he had to take two club lengths before he could drop the ball.
Bradley’s caddie, Steven ‘Pepsi’ Hale, then became involved in the argument but Jimenez evidently did not want to hear his opinion.
It sparked Hale’s fury as he replied: “Don’t you ever tell me to shut up”.
Bradley then got in Jimenez’s face, looking ready to fight the Spaniard, and told him: “You don’t tell my caddie to shut up”.
Jimenez went on to win the hole and the two shook hands on the green but exchanged some final words.
Hale tried to get in on the situation as well, but Bradley told him to back away.
After the day’s play, Jimenez insisted the situation was ‘finished’.
“The round is finished and everything is done,” Jimenez told reporters at the time.
“We had a little discussion, but it is done.”
As for Bradley, he looks back on the incident with plenty of regret, especially since he called Jimenez ‘maybe the coolest man alive’ in a tweet back in 2013.
“Yeah, I hate it,” Bradley told the Fore Play podcast in 2023.
“Sometimes people underestimate me. I’m really embarrassed by it, and every year during the match play.
“Like, my buddies love it, so they’re like sending it in our group chats. I delete it right away because I can’t even see it because it’s so embarrassing.”
Bradley is set to compete in just his second Presidents Cup, 11 years after his first appearance.
It is an event the United States have dominated over the years and have not lost it since 1998.
With the likes of Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele alongside him, Bradley stands a very strong chance of adding another Presidents Cup to his trophy cabinet which also holds the 2011 PGA Championship.
News Summary:
- ‘Don’t tell my caddie to shut up’ – Team USA golfer squared up to rival and nearly came to blows
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