U.S. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley is strongly encouraging players to compete in the Procore Championship at Silverado Resort, set for September 11-14, 2025, as a critical tune-up just two weeks before the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black.
In an interview with Sports Illustrated on Wednesday, ahead of the FedEx St. Jude Championship, Bradley emphasized the importance of staying sharp for the high-stakes biennial clash against Team Europe, scheduled for September 26-28 in Farmingdale, New York.
“No one is required to go,” Bradley clarified, “but the boys feel like this is the best course of action to be ready to play at their highest level at Bethpage.”
The move marks a strategic shift for the U.S. team, which faced criticism for lackluster preparation before a 16.5-11.5 loss to Europe in 2023 at Marco Simone. That year, most American players skipped competitive play between the Tour Championship and the Ryder Cup, a four-week gap, while all 12 European players honed their games at the BMW PGA Championship.
Bradley, reflecting on that defeat, told SI, “I think the guys want to feel ready to go at Bethpage, and they feel this is the best way to do it.”
The Procore Championship, the only PGA Tour event between the Tour Championship and the Ryder Cup, has emerged as a de facto “training camp” for the U.S. squad, with top players like Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele already committing to play.
However, not all 12 players are expected to participate, as LIV Golf’s Bryson DeChambeau, whom Bradley has guaranteed a captain’s pick, is ineligible for PGA Tour events.
“Bryson is going to be a very important piece to us winning the Ryder Cup,” Bradley texted SI, praising DeChambeau’s energy and elite skill.
Bradley, who could become the first U.S. playing captain since Arnold Palmer in 1963, said he’d also tee it up at Procore if he qualifies for the team, either via points or a captain’s pick — a decision complicated by his recent surge, including a win at the 2025 Travelers Championship.
“I will either make the team on points — I don’t see myself picking myself,” he told RyderCup.com last year, though his current form has him ranked 10th in U.S. standings.
The unprecedented move to rally at Napa, a course not typically frequented by top stars, aims to build team cohesion and maintain competitive edge, addressing past critiques of U.S. preparation.
