Team USA Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley admitted he was “surprised” that Netflix aired his spontaneous locker room speech at the Presidents Cup but emphasized that he had no intention of disrespecting his European rivals.
Bradley was part of Team USA’s victorious Presidents Cup squad and, during the celebrations, delivered an impassioned speech about his unexpected Ryder Cup captaincy.
“We’re gonna go to Bethpage to kick their f*ing a!” he shouted to his energized teammates—a moment captured by Netflix’s Full Swing cameras and later broadcast on the streaming platform.
Shane Lowry confirmed that Team Europe heard the remark loud and clear, with many believing that Luke Donald’s squad will use it as extra motivation heading into Bethpage.
However, Bradley insists he was simply caught up in the excitement of the moment and never expected his words to go beyond the locker room—let alone be featured on Netflix.
“Listen, I thought I was in a locker room with my team,” Bradley said. “You know, that’s what happens in a locker room. I meant no disrespect to the Europeans.
“This was a time that we had just won the Presidents Cup, I was in the locker room and it was my turn to address the team. And I meant no disrespect, I was more speaking to our guys.”
Bradley, who opened the Arnold Palmer Invitational with an impressive first-round 69, was caught off guard when he saw that Netflix had included his speech in Full Swing.
“I was a little surprised, yeah,” Bradley added. “But again, I have to know that in this day and age, especially with cell phones, everything’s being recorded.”
Ryder Cup build-ups can be intense, and while fiery speeches like Bradley’s are common, they’re rarely shared with millions—let alone the opposing team.
However, it’s evident that Bradley’s intent was to express his passion as captain rather than take a jab at Team Europe. He also believes Donald’s squad doesn’t need to use the footage as extra motivation for the competition.
“I don’t think the Europeans need any more motivation to win the Ryder Cup,” insisted Bradley.
“They’re a special group of players and the Ryder Cup means a lot to them. And when the Ryder Cup year and when the Ryder Cup comes along, they really seem to come together and play their best golf.
“So I think that they’re motivated enough to beat us.”
Bradley also addressed the doubts surrounding his captaincy, acknowledging that many underestimated him after his unexpected appointment to lead Team USA.
However, one thing is certain—his passion for the role. If nothing else, Netflix’s footage made it clear to the golfing world just how much dedication Bradley will bring as captain.
“That’s who I am. That’s me. I’m a pretty excited person,” Bradley said. “I’m very excited about the Ryder Cup. I think my enthusiasm towards the Ryder Cup showed there. It was meant for our team. You know, again no disrespect to the other guys.”
