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A16 sports
Wednesday 10 July 2024

With Tiger Woods' approval, Keegan Bradley locks in Ryder Cup

captaincy — perhaps even as a player

By RYAN KRYSKA put my hat in the ring for this golf documentary series "Full
AP Sports Writer committee to decide." Swing." Now the team cap-
NEW YORK (AP) — Keegan With Woods out, the PGA tain, Bradley still believes he's
Bradley was just as shocked of America had to look in got what it takes to qualify for
as anyone when Zach John- a different direction to suc- the team. He is No. 19 in the
son told him he'd been se- ceed Johnson, the previous world ranking, after all. And
lected as the 2025 U.S. Ryder captain who is on the Ryder he was clear in his intention
Cup captain. Cup committee. to do just that, a feat that
It was two weeks ago on a They decided to go with would make him the first U.S.
Sunday night — the children the 38-year-old Bradley, Ryder Cup playing captain
had just been put to bed, the youngest U.S. Ryder Cup since Palmer in '63 if he could
and Bradley was ready to captain since a 34-year-old pull it off.
kick his feet up and relax af- Arnold Palmer in 1963. "I feel as though I'm still in
ter three weeks on the road. Bradley competed in the Ry- the prime of my career and
Then came the phone call. der Cup in 2012 and 2014, can make this team," Brad-
"I don't think I'll ever be more Keegan Bradley participates in a news conference in New York, both losses for the Ameri- ley said.
surprised of anything in my Tuesday, July 9, 2024. Bradley was introduced as the U.S. Ryder cans. He has long talked Bradley is perhaps the most
entire life," Bradley said Tues- Cup captain for 2025. about wanting to redeem familiar American player
day as he was introduced Associated Press those results, famously hold- with the 2025 course, Beth-
as the captain at NASDAQ his own phone call to make. est to go with someone else. ing onto his packed 2012 page Black on Long Island.
headquarters in New York. "I It was to Tiger Woods. The PGA read a statement bag and vowing not to open He grew up playing there in
had no idea. It took awhile "I've been grateful — before from Woods at Bradley's in- it until he's a Ryder Cup win- college, where he attended
for it to sink in. I accepted this job I needed troductory news conference. ner. St. John's University. He even
"I wasn't fully comfortable to talk to Tiger and I wanted "With my new responsibilities After two PGA Tour victo- joked about skipping class to
with some of the people that to make sure I — I wanted to the tour and time commit- ries, a runner-up finish and play at Bethpage.
were passed over. I have a to hear from him," Bradley ments involved I felt I would six top-10s last season, in- "I'm not going to pick my-
lot of respect for the people said. "We had a great con- not be able to commit the cluding in the Tour Cham- self," Bradley said. "The only
that came before me and versation. I certainly need time to Team USA and the pionship, Bradley was con- way that would happen is if
people that deserve to be his input." players required as a cap- sidered a candidate for the the team was insisting it but
in this position, so that was Woods was widely viewed tain," Woods said in the state- 2023 team. But he was not even if they did I don't see
a heavy thought and mo- as the heir to the captaincy, ment. "That does not mean I selected by Johnson. That that happening. I want to
ment." but after considering his cur- wouldn't want to captain a devastated Bradley, whose make the team on points,
Once Bradley composed rent obligations, he decided team in the future. If/when reaction to being rejected otherwise I'm going to be
himself, he realized he had it was in the PGA's best inter- I feel it is the right time, I will was captured on the Netflix the captain."q

Brett Favre is asking an appeals court to

reinstate his defamation lawsuit against

Shannon Sharpe

a fellow Pro Football Hall of told three 5th U.S. Circuit would have to be a sorry
Fame member, former tight Court of Appeals judges in person "to steal from the
end Shannon Sharpe, amid New Orleans that the law- lowest of the low."
the backdrop of a Missis- suit should be revived, ar- "That's actionable defama-
sippi welfare scandal that guing that Sharpe accused tion, because that reason-
is one of the state's largest Favre, who has not been able listener is taking the
public corruption cases. charged with a crime, of word steal literally and not
A federal judge in Missis- theft. figuratively," Vora said.
sippi threw out the lawsuit Sharpe said during a Sep- Sharpe's attorney, Joseph
Former NFL football quarterback Brett Favre speaks with
reporters prior to his induction to the Mississippi Hall of Fame, in October, saying Sharpe tember 2022 broadcast of Terry, told the judges that
Aug. 1, 2015, in Jackson, Miss. used constitutionally pro- the Fox Sports show "Skip Sharpe's remarks were
Associated Press tected speech on a sports and Shannon: Undisputed" clearly an opinion offered
broadcast when he criti- that Favre was "taking from when he was asked about
By KEVIN McGILL back Brett Favre asked a cized Favre's connection the underserved," that he a news report on the Missis-
Associated Press federal appeals court Tues- to the welfare misspending "stole money from people sippi welfare scandal and
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Law- day to revive a defamation case. that really needed that how the reports will affect
yers for retired NFL quarter- lawsuit Favre filed against Favre's lawyer, Amit Vora, money" and that someone Favre's legacy.q