Keegan Bradley surprised his Ryder Cup comments made it into Full Swing documentary

ORLANDO, Fla. — Count U.S. Ryder Cup Captain Keegan Bradley as surprised as anyone that his comments that the Americans were “gonna go to Bethpage to kick (the Europeans) f****** ass” made its way into Netflix’s golf documentary “Full Swing.”

Bradley made the comment Team USA’s locker room shortly after the Americans had clinched the Presidents Cup in Montreal in September. Bradley’s impassioned speech is the kicker to episode seven of the third season of the popular show.

“I certainly thought I was in the locker room. But, you know, in the world that we live in I got to be more aware of that there’s always somebody filming,” he said. “Again, I meant no disrespect, but we were excited. I had just won, I had just won the Presidents Cup that I hadn’t played in 10 years, it was an exciting moment for me.”

It should be ripe bulletin board material for the Europeans, who defeated the U.S. in the biennial match in Rome in 2023. Luke Donald returns as the European team captain and his potential team members already have discussed it.

“Oh yeah,” said Irishman Shane Lowry last week. “We have all seen it.”

Full Swing producers have had impressive access to film players, including showing Rory McIlroy as he has dealt with major-championship failure. But the U.S. Ryder Cup team limited access to the team room at Rome. Bradley said the footage of him pumping up his teammates for this year’s battle at Bethpage wasn’t meant for broader publication but rather his exuberance busting out among his teammates.

“I was a little surprised, yeah,” he said. “But again, I have to know that in this day and age, especially with cell phones, everything’s being recorded. But that’s who I am. That’s me. I’m a pretty excited person. 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.”

Bradley held the early lead at the Arnold Palmer Invitational after a 3-under 69. The 38-year-old said he’s embracing the challenge of being captain and attempting to make his own team.

“When I’m outside the ropes I’m working on the Ryder Cup every second,” Bradley said. “I have some stuff I have to do this afternoon in my room, and some things are going on today that I’m working on. But one of the nice things about this is, when I get inside the ropes and I have a card in my pocket, I’m a player. And then now, when I leave and I’m done practicing or whatever, my duty as a captain starts. I look forward to that.”

If Bradley keeps playing the way he has, he may qualify among the top 6 in the point standings and make his own team. What a dilemma that would be.

“I hope it’s not a tough decision. I hope I’m either on the team or it’s not a decision,” Bradley added. “if I am in the top 6 I’ll play. If not, I owe it to the guys to be a captain, although I have some great vice captains that could help that.”

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley surprised comments got into Full Swing