LUKE DONALD: Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, and to all golf fans around the world, it is truly an honor to stand here today as captain of the European Ryder Cup Team. To lead these 12 men once again, 12 of Europe's finest, continues to be one of the greatest privileges of my life.
We come to you this week not just as individual players from nine different nations but as one team, a team defined by history, by unity and by belief that we are playing for something far greater than ourselves.
The Ryder Cup means so much to each and every one of us. It is unlike anything else in our sport.
It is not about prize money or world ranking points. It's about pride. It's about representing your flag, your shirts, and the legacy you leave behind.
We play for our families, our teammates, our countries, our continent, and for the generations before us who made this event what it is today.
The American team is rightly proud of their heritage, but so are we. Our European legacy is rooted in resilience, in togetherness and in proving people wrong. Time and again, we've shown that when we come together as one with a shared purpose, we can achieve remarkable things.
What a place to try and do it again: New York City! New York is a place where if you show up with talent and a fighting spirit, the city will get behind you. Although maybe not if you're wearing European blue this week.
We know what awaits us; Bethpage isn't exactly shy. This is New York sports country, passionate, loyal, and ferociously loud, and rightly so.
You the fans here respect effort over ego. You show up for those who grind, for those who fight, and for those who rise to the big occasions. And you make us earn every cheer.
We may not be your team, but we will give you something to respect, something to admire, and maybe by the end of this week, something to cheer for.
Bethpage is the perfect venue for this contest, a public golf course, a state park, where thousands of fans will gather shoulder to shoulder. It's a course for the people and a stage where players on both sides will try to prove they belong. Make no mistake; our players are ready. Every one of them has earned their spot, not through entitlement but through excellence. They've faced pressure and risen to the moment, and this week they will carry the hopes of an entire continent.
Two years ago, we wrote a chapter in Rome. This week in New York, we aim to write history.
We didn't come here just to be a part of the show. We came here to earn our place in Ryder Cup folklore. We're not just playing to win, we're playing for each other and for every young golfer back home who dreams about one day representing Team Europe.
We know it won't be easy; winning away never is. Only four European teams have done it before. But that's the beauty of sport. The toughest roads lead to the greatest rewards.
We are fueled by something money cannot buy: Purpose, brotherhood, and a responsibility to honor those who came before us, while inspiring those whose time is yet to come.
Before I introduce the 12 men who I believe will do that, I would like to say a few thank yous, to governor of state New York, Kathy Hochul; Hope Knight, the CEO of Empire State Development; and Tom DiNapoli, state comptroller, thank you for your incredible hospitality.
Also thank you to Don Rea, Derek Sprague and everyone at the PGA of America for hosting us this week.
To Keegan, Jillian and your two boys, Logan and Cooper, Diane and I have really valued our friendship over the years, and we know that bond will last well beyond this week no matter the outcome. It's been a pleasure to share this Ryder Cup captaincy with you. Thank you for your friendship and all the memories along the way.
To the 12 players of Team USA, your talent and passion are never in doubt. We know you'll bring your best. We promise to do the same.
I also want to take a moment to thank the people behind the scenes who walk every step with us. Our caddies, the ones who feel every shot, share every pressure moment and bring clarity when the chaos sets in. You are essential to our success. And to our incredible back room team staff, your tireless work day in and day out is what makes this team run. We are all stronger because of you.
To the wives, partners and families of our players, thank you. Your support, patience and sacrifice allow these men to compete at the highest level. We know the Ryder Cup isn't just a big week for the players, it's a big week for you too.
And of course, to my very own family, to my wife Diane, my girls Gigi, Sophia and Elle, thank you for always standing by my side. Your love and support mean everything to me, and I love you guys so much.
I would like to introduce my five vice captains now who play such an important part in everything we do. First, from Denmark, Thomas Björn; from Italy, the Molinari brothers, Edoardo and Francesco; from Sweden, Alex Noren; finally, from Spain, José Maria Olazábal.
Now, let me introduce to you these 12 men I'm so proud to lead this week. From Sweden, Ludvig Åberg; from England, Matt Fitzpatrick; from England, Tommy Fleetwood; also from England, Tyrrell Hatton; from Denmark, Rasmus Højgaard; from Norway, Viktor Hovland; from Ireland, Shane Lowry; from Scotland, Robert McIntyre; from Northern Ireland, Rory McIlroy; from Spain, Jon Rahm; from England, Justin Rose; finally, from Austria, Sepp Straka.
These 12 men are ready. Europe is ready. Enjoy the Ryder Cup, and we'll see you bright and early on Friday morning.
KEEGAN BRADLEY: Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. To say I never expected to be standing here as the Ryder Cup captain is an understatement. When I got the call, I was stunned, but more than that, I was honored: Honored to lead this team, honored to represent our country, and honored to share this experience with my friend, Luke Donald.
As someone who grew up in the game, this moment is surreal. My dad Mark is a proud PGA of America professional. My aunt Pat is an LPGA legend and a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame. For us, golf is the family business.
But the Ryder Cup became personal for me in 1999 at Brookline. I was 13 years old, perched on my dad's shoulders watching Justin Rose' miracle putt drop on 17. When the crowd erupted on 18, my dad let me join in on the celebration. That was the moment golf stopped being a game and started being a calling. That day changed my life.
I come from New England, but I went to St. John's. That's where I fell in love with New York.
We've come a long way from 166th Street and Utopia Parkway in Queens, haven't we. The grit, the grind, the rhythm of the city taught me how to compete, how to lead, and what passion for your cause really feels like. There is nothing like New York City.
Yes, the stories are true. My teammates and I used to play Bethpage Black when it was closed on Mondays. We'd park by the maintenance shed and play the inner loop, holes 3 through 14. One day during my senior year, my teammate George Lotus and I decided we were going to go over the road to play 15, 16, 17 and 18, the holes we really wanted to play but hadn't been allowed to for four years. We were young, passionate and convinced we were invisible. Turns out we weren't.
The park service came. We got in a lot of trouble. But it was worth it. Just ask anyone in the Nassau Players Club how special it is to play Bethpage Black.
These memories, Brookline, Bethpage, New York, they shaped me. But they also taught me something deeper, that golf at its best is more than just a game.
The Ryder Cup isn't just about golf, it's about pride. It's about legacy. It's about standing shoulder to shoulder with your teammates who believe in each other, fight for each other, and understand that this is bigger than any one of us.
As we prepare to tee it up on Friday, I want to thank the people who made this journey possible. To Governor Hochul, to the teams of the New York State Parks, the New York State Police, local law enforcement, first responders, and the Empire State Development Corporation, thank you for your unwavering support and tireless efforts in preparing Bethpage Black and helping us deliver an experience truly worthy of the Ryder Cup.
To my wife Jillian, your love, your strength and your belief in me make everything possible. Thank you for being my rock and the heart of our home, for Logan and Cooper.
To the wives and partners of our U.S. Team members, thank you for your sacrifices. Your support and your steady presence, this journey is yours, too. To the PGA of America, I'm so grateful that you trusted me with this responsibility and this incredible honor. Don and Derek, thank you.
To the many past captains who have supported me throughout this process, I've learned so much from each one of you. Thank you for being so generous with your time. To the great Larry Nelson, thank you for agreeing to be our Ryder Cup ambassador. Having you around our team this week inspires us to be our best on and off the golf course.
To our vice captains, Jim Furyk, Kevin Kisner, Webb Simpson, Brandt Snedeker and Gary Woodland, your wisdom and leadership prepared us for this moment.
To our caddies, you are the heartbeat of this team. You carry more than just bags. You carry trust, strategy and all of us. Let's give these boys a big round of applause. Thank you, caddies.
To the European team and everyone associated with Ryder Cup Europe, thank you. Your passion elevates this competition. To Luke Donald and his wife Diane, thank you for your friendship. Luke, you are the ultimate professional and competitor. When I first came out on Tour, you were the No. 1 player in the world, yet you always made time for me, and I'll never forget it.
You lead with quiet strength and undeniable class, and I admire that deeply.
To my St. John's teammates, Coach Darby and best friends, thank you for being here.
To Dr. Glenn Muraca, after my senior year at St. John's, I was working in the bag room at Wheatley Hills Golf Club not far from here. Doc was a member who saw something in me, and when I needed help the most, you came through for me. To Wheatley Hills and Doc, thank you. You helped make this career and this moment possible.
To our 12 players, you're bonded in a way I've never seen before. I've learned so much from you, about how to live, about how to compete, and about how to lead. You've changed me as a player and as a person. You've inspired me every day.
Being your captain is an honor of a lifetime. Thank you. We know the atmosphere this weekend will be electric, raucous, and yes, respectful. That's part of what makes the Ryder Cup so special on both sides of the pond. I've never forgotten what it felt like to run on to that green at Brookline, watching a team come together in a way that changed my life. The moment lit a fire in me, and this week that same Ryder Cup fire will fuel our team. It will drive us through every match, every moment and every challenge.
It's the fire that lives in every boy or girl with an impossible dream, and it's the fire that makes the Ryder Cup unlike anything else in sports. Over the next three days, we'll play with heart, play with honor, and we'll play with every dream sparked by the fire of this competition, because the Ryder Cup doesn't just test skill; it reveals soul.
We are on a quest to reclaim the Ryder Cup! We face a mighty opponent. The challenge will be fierce. The pressure will be real.
And now, it's my honor to introduce to you the 2025 United States Ryder Cup team. From Louisiana, Sam Burns; from California, Patrick Cantlay; from Texas, Bryson DeChambeau; from Georgia, Harris English; from Georgia, Russell Henley; from North Carolina, Ben Griffin; from California, Collin Morikawa; from California, Xander Schauffele; from California, J.J. Spaun; from Kentucky, Justin Thomas; from New Jersey, Scottie Scheffler; from New York, your very own Cameron Young.
I came to Bethpage as an 18-year-old kid with a dream, but I never got this far in it. To come back here as a Ryder Cup captain is beyond my wildest dreams. Bethpage Black is known as the People's Country Club. It's been called New York's home course. But this week, with your passion and your energy, you're going to make it America's home course.
Thank you. Go USA!
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports