Keegan Bradley's 2025 Ryder Cup Vice Captains — Experience That Could Deliver Team USA Victory
The 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black is already generating serious buzz, and U.S. captain Keegan Bradley has put together a vice-captain lineup that's pretty impressive on paper. With Gary Woodland rounding out the group as his fifth and final vice captain, Bradley has assembled a brain trust that mixes major championship wins, Ryder Cup battle scars and the kind of competitive fire that could make all the difference come September.
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Jim Furyk: The Voice of Experience
Nobody on this team knows the Ryder Cup like Jim Furyk. The guy played in nine of them and captained the 2018 team in Paris — and yeah, that one didn't go so well for Team USA. But here's the thing: losing that badly might actually make Furyk more valuable, not less. He's seen what can go wrong when everything's on the line, and his steady, analytical approach could be exactly what Bradley needs when the pressure cooker gets turned up to 11.
U.S. team captain Jim Furyk is seen during the final round of the Presidents Cup on Sept. 29, 2024, in Ile Bizard, Quebec.Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
Kevin Kisner: The Energy Guy
If you've ever watched Kisner play, you know he's got that scrappy, never-say-die attitude that Ryder Cup teams thrive on. The man knows how to grind out points when matches get tight, and he's been through the team competition wringer with Presidents Cup experience. Plus, Kisner's the kind of straight shooter who can tell a player exactly what they need to hear — whether it's a pep talk or a reality check.
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Team USA member Kevin Kisner drinks from the Presidents Cup trophy at Quail Hollow Club on Sept. 25, 2022, in Charlotte, North Carolina.Peter Casey-Imagn Images
Webb Simpson: Mr. Reliable
Simpson won the 2012 U.S. Open at Olympic Club, so he's been there when it counts. What makes him valuable isn't just the major championship — it's how methodical and consistent he's been throughout his career. In match play, where one bad hole can derail everything, having someone who can help players think through strategy and stay level-headed is huge. Simpson's that steady voice in the storm.
Webb Simpson, winner of the 112th U.S. Open, is pictured at The Olympic Club on June 17, 2012, in San Francisco.Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Brandt Snedeker: The Pressure Player
Snedeker's played in multiple Ryder Cups as a player, so he gets what it's like when 40,000 people are screaming and every putt feels like it weighs a thousand pounds. His putting has always been elite, and he's got that analytical mind that can break down opponents and course conditions. When Bradley needs someone to help prep players for specific matchups, Snedeker's your guy.
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Team USA member Brandt Snedeker addresses the media at the 41st Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National Golf Club on Sept. 28, 2016, in Chaska, Minnesota. John David Mercer-Imagn Images
Gary Woodland: The Bridge Builder
Here's where Bradley got creative. Woodland won the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach and earned the PGA Tour's Byron Nelson Award for his character and charitable work. But more importantly, he's still out there competing week to week. That means he can relate to the current crop of players in ways the other vice-captains might not. He's the bridge between the veteran leadership and the young guns who'll actually be teeing it up.
Gary Woodland is seen with the championship trophy after winning the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links on June 16, 2019.Rob Schumacher-Imagn Images
Why This Group Works
What's smart about Bradley's picks is how they cover all the bases. You've got experience (Furyk), energy (Kisner), reliability (Simpson), clutch performance (Snedeker) and current relevance (Woodland). Each guy brings something different to the table, which means Bradley can match the right voice to the right player at the right moment.
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The Ryder Cup isn't just about having 12 great golfers — it's about having the right leadership to maximize what those 12 guys can do together. With Bethpage Black providing home-field advantage and this experienced crew providing the guidance, the Americans look like they're setting themselves up for success.
Come September, we'll find out if all this veteran wisdom translates to points on the board.
Related: Aldrich Potgieter's Victory Proves Professional Golf's Next Generation Has No Fear
Related: Let's Talk About Why Keegan Bradley Should Be Ryder Cup's First Playing Captain in 62 Years
Related: Allow Me to Introduce Myself
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
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