Bradley Reflects on Bethpage Ryder Cup Loss, Urges US Overhaul

Keegan Bradley said he is still unable to put behind him Team USA's unexpected 15-13 Ryder Cup loss at Bethpage Black, recounting at a press appearance a month after the event the personal and professional toll of steering the team through a campaign that collapsed over the first two days. Europe led 11½ to 4½ going into Sunday, and although the Americans won 8½ of the 12 singles points, the recovery came too late to prevent a second consecutive U.S. defeat in the competition.

Bradley, 39, who served as captain but did not select himself to play, acknowledged both lingering regret and a sense that the choice was ultimately necessary. He said he still wonders what might have been, but that by the second or third day he was physically exhausted and "did not think I could do both jobs." He also accepted responsibility for strategic missteps around pairings and course setup that contributed to the team's poor performance in fourball and foursomes on Friday and Saturday.

The defeat exposed fault lines broader than one captain's decisions. Several U.S. players and former participants have criticized the structure and preparation of the American program, arguing it lacks the continuity...