Whiparound Wednesday: Ryder Cup Picks, Made-for-TV Golf

Time’s Up

We are now just 30 days out from the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, and depending on what time you’re reading this, the U.S. team may be locked in. Captain Keegan Bradley will make his six picks at 11 a.m. ET on Wednesday, and if he selects himself, he would be the first Ryder Cup playing captain since Arnold Palmer in 1963.

When he was first announced as the captain in July 2024, Bradley said he wouldn’t use a pick on himself: “I want to make the team on points, otherwise I'm going to be the captain.” Over the last year and change, Bradley’s answer evolved. The better he played, the more he changed his tune. After his win at the Travelers Championship, Bradley said, “This changes the story a little bit,” and the door was open for him to play. Lackluster results in his six starts since have once again altered the story.

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Whether he selects himself or not, we’ll have plenty to react to in Friday’s newsletter. Until then, let the rampant speculation continue!

More Made-for-TV Golf

According to Sports Business Journal’s Josh Carpenter, Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy will captain and headline an “all-star skills-type” event of two four-man teams in Florida in December, likely at Trump National Golf Club Jupiter. The event will be produced by the same groups who ran last year’s “Showdown,” which pitted PGA Tour vs. LIV Golf players.

From the various versions of “The Match” to last year’s disappointing “Showdown,” I thought I was out on made-for-TV golf, but this has my interest. If done right, a golf skills challenge could be really fun. The celebrity and pro matches were too long and usually not that competitive, and there were way too many voices on the broadcasts. A skills event like this fits a one- or two-hour window perfectly, and you don’t need a handful of celebrity commentators making appearances. Get an experienced host to guide things along and largely back out so players can explain the shots and talk a little trash. If DJ Khaled makes an appearance, they’ve done something wrong. This shouldn’t be that difficult!

Breakfast at Bethpage

The PGA of America announced a Ryder Cup pregame show live from the first tee called “Breakfast at Bethpage” that was described in a press release as “College Gameday meets the ManningCast.” That’s some high internal praise, seeing as the former is one of the most beloved pregame shows in sports while the latter is a very popular alternate broadcast for younger viewers.

Unlike the skills challenge, I think I’m out on this. The press release was a buffet of hyperbole that also stated, “(Saturday Night Live’s Colin Jost) will be joined by an entertaining ensemble of celebrity co-hosts and a stellar lineup of A-list guests, including golf-loving celebrities, comedians, and non-playing players. Jost will helm the show while roaming reporters highlight the excitement amongst the first tee spectators and additional areas around Bethpage Black.” When will networks learn that big names for the sake of big names don’t make an entertaining broadcast? They often take away from it. Boasting “A-list guests” is a red flag.

I was lucky enough to go to the 2018 Ryder Cup in Paris and, admittedly, drank the first tee Kool-Aid every morning. I’m a sucker for a fun fan atmosphere, and that was one of the best weeks of my life. Highlighting that fan experience, especially in New York, could be great, but it won’t be easy to deliver to those watching at home. I love how the powers that be are trying something new for fans, but file this one alongside the other “Things Nobody Asked For.”