AP
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President Donald Trump says he will be in the opening round of the highly charged Ryder Cup in New York next month, and I think Captain Keegan Bradley should play.
Trump posted on his social media site on Saturday night. He will be there on Friday, September 26th for the start of the three-day match between the US and Europe.
He said he was invited to the PGA Tour and made the general mistake of distinguishing the tour from the American PGA that runs the American Ryder Cup. A spokesman for the PGA of America said the organization and Bradley invited Trump.
Already the loudest event in golf, this Ryder Cup has more expectations than usual for the venue. The Black Course at Bethpage State Park in Long Island, New York, is the open course with a reputation for having the slowest fans.
Given his passion for golf, Trump was expected to be present at some point in the Ryder Cup. He met with PGA Tour Commissioners Jay Monaghan and Tiger Woods earlier this year and tried without success to resolve the divisions created by Saudi-funded Liv Golf. The PGA Tour announced this week that it will return to Trump National Doral next year for the first time in almost a decade.
The wrinkle added to this rider cup is Bradley. Bradley is debating whether he will become the first captain to play in a game since Arnold Palmer in 1963.
Bradley, 39, is America’s youngest captain, as Palmer was 34 years old. Whether or not to keep the captain duties was subject to much debate, and Bradley added a plot by winning twice last year.
He shot 63 on Saturday – hours before the post on Trump’s Truth Social – came in fourth in his chances to win the season-ending FedEx Cup.
“Keagan Bradley is definitely on the American Rider Cup team – as captain!!! He’s a great guy. It’s going to be a great Ryder Cup,” Trump wrote.
Trump, who attended the Super Bowl in February and most recently at the FIFA Club World Cup final in New Jersey, is friendly with several notable golfers. Bryson Deccanbaugh, qualified for the US team, plays golf with Trump and was the only golfer Trump to be appointed to the Presidential Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition.
Bradley’s decision on whether to play or not will come on Wednesday when he announced the six captain’s picks.
