Bradley To Take The Helm: U.S. Chooses Captain for 2025 Ryder Cup (After Tiger Woods Declines)
Catch Up on the Latest Golf Industry News - Tech Upgrades at The Open, Rookie Triumphs at PGA Tour & Langer's Farewell!
Hey GBR Family! ⛳️
We wanted to share some exciting last-minute news with you to help your week get off to a bang. Stick with us until the end, and you'll be up-to-speed on:
Bradley To Be Captain: Tiger Steps Aside for 2025 U.S. Ryder Cup
Tech Takeover at The Open: NTT Data enhances the spectator experience at golf's prestigious major.
Tiger & JT Tee Off: Planning permission granted for Woods and Timberlake's new sports bar in St Andrews.
Rookie Makes History: Thompson secures a record-breaking first PGA Tour victory.
Emotional Win for Ferguson: Scottish golfer claims a dramatic victory on the DP World Tour in Germany.
Legend Retires: Bernhard Langer announces his retirement from the DP World Tour after a remarkable 50 years.
Keegan Bradley Expected to Be 2025 U.S. Ryder Cup Captain at Bethpage Black
Keegan Bradley is likely to captain the U.S. Ryder Cup team at Bethpage Black in 2025. This decision comes after Tiger Woods declined the role, prompting the PGA of America to deviate from its recent protocol and select Bradley.
These were the chronological events that unfolded over the past few hours, culminating throughout this morning:
Today, Bob Harig reported in Sports Illustrated that Keegan Bradley has been chosen.
During the morning, The PGA of America announced that it will reveal the U.S. Ryder Cup captain at 12 p.m. ET on Tuesday in New York.
Finally, a couple of hours ago, CBS itself confirmed the story.
So, it looks like all the ways take to Bradley.
Bradley, a six-time winner on the PGA Tour and the 2011 PGA Championship winner, has a notable but limited history in the Ryder Cup. He has played in two Ryder Cups with his last appearance in 2014.
At 38, Bradley will be the second youngest U.S. captain after Arnold Palmer captained the team aged 34 in 1963. Bradley gained a reputation as a fearsome competitor in matchplay. He is 4-2 in his two Ryder Cup appearances in 2012 and 2014, with a highly successful pairing with Phil Mickelson achieving a 4-1 record together. Notably, at the 2012 Ryder Cup at Medinah, he lost in singles to Rory McIlroy, who famously arrived late due to a misunderstood tee time.
2023 Controversy As Bradley Overlooked
Bradley will succeed Zach Johnson as the U.S. Ryder Cup captain. Johnson, who bypassed Bradley for a wildcard pick last year, faced criticism after the U.S. team's defeat at the Marco Simone Golf Club outside of Rome. Bradley had won the Zozo Championship and the Travelers Championship, positioning himself for the U.S. team based on points. Despite finishing 11th in the final standings, he was overlooked in favour of Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler, and Justin Thomas. The decision to bypass Bradley led to considerable backlash, with accusations of favouritism towards a “boys' club” consisting of Fowler and Thomas, who share close personal ties beyond the PGA Tour.
Tiger Woods’ Role
Tiger Woods was initially seen as the only choice for the captaincy. He has an impressive background, having served as the victorious playing captain for the 2019 U.S. Presidents Cup team and as an assistant in the 2016 Ryder Cup and the 2017 Presidents Cup.
However, Woods turned down the captaincy, citing his responsibilities as a player director on the PGA Tour policy board and the timing of PGA CEO Seth Waugh’s announcement of his departure.
According to our colleague Geoff Shackelford, from The Quadrilateral, A-list option Tiger Woods slow-played a decision awaiting PGA of America politics to play out. When his Seminole Pro-Member pal Seth Waugh stepped down June 30th, Tiger lost an ally in the building who would excuse Woods for passing up marketing and partner appearances required of the Captain all while juggling his PGA Tour board duties.
More info:
First rumours by Golf.com | Tour Confidential: Who will captain the U.S. Ryder Cup team?
Bob Harig´s soop in Sports Illustrated | Keegan Bradley, Not Tiger Woods, Expected to Be 2025 U.S. Ryder Cup Captain at Bethpage
CBS Confirmation | Keegan Bradley to be named United States captain after Tiger Woods turns role down
NTT Data Elevates Spectator Experience at The Open Championship
Since 2013, NTT Data has been the official IT provider for The Open Championship, continually enhancing the event’s spectator experience. As the championship returns to Royal Troon for its 152nd edition, NTT Data is poised to deliver cutting-edge technologies, showcasing their commitment to innovation and fan engagement. The 152nd Open Championship will take place from July 14-17, 2024, in Troon, South Ayrshire, Scotland.
The NTT DATA Wall: A Technological Marvel
One of the standout features introduced by NTT Data is the NTT DATA Wall. This 20-meter wide LED screen, located in the spectator village, will offer real-time broadcasts of the championship, along with captivating statistics and engaging data visualizations. Launched in 2014, the DATA Wall has seen significant advancements over the years, pushing the boundaries of real-time interaction and immersive fan experiences.
Enhanced Real-Time Interaction: This year’s upgrades will focus on photo-realistic, real-time graphical rendering of the Old Course, mapped to centimeter accuracy. This will allow fans to see the course with unprecedented detail.
AI Prioritization Algorithm: A new AI algorithm will ensure the most important shots are shown instantly, improving synchronization with the broadcast feed and enhancing the overall viewing experience.
ShotView: Revolutionizing Golf Analytics
ShotView, a digital-twin powered data intelligence platform, represents a significant advancement in golf analytics. Designed with input from previous iterations, it will feature a more intuitive user interface and enhanced statistical models to cater to both casual viewers and dedicated golf enthusiasts.
User-Friendly Interface: ShotView will simplify navigation for those seeking straightforward information while providing deeper data access for analysts.
Real-Time Insights: Capturing every shot in real-time, ShotView will offer insights that transform how fans engage with the sport, enabling them to explore nuanced aspects of play and player strategies with unparalleled clarity.
Lottie: The Digital Human
Lottie, a GenAI-powered digital guide, combines the best of digital and human interactions. This year, Lottie will showcase significant enhancements, including an improved user interface unified into a single conversational mode using advanced Gen AI technologies.
Interactive and Engaging: Lottie will provide on-the-spot insights, blending static data such as golf rules with dynamic, real-time updates from the course.
Enhanced Realism: Lottie’s visual representation has been dramatically improved, ensuring more human-like movements and a physically accurate avatar, enhancing the realism of interactions.
Driving Sustainability
NTT Data’s commitment to sustainability is evident through their initiatives at The Open. In 2023, they brought sustainability insights to fans via the DATA Wall, empowering them to understand their carbon footprint and make more informed decisions.
Live Sustainability Updates: The DATA Wall will showcase live updates on water usage, the number of plastic bottles saved, public transport utilization, and locally sourced food consumption.
Research Collaboration: This initiative is part of a multi-year research project with The R&A and Cardiff University, aiming to drive long-term behavior change in sustainability choices among sports fans.
Private 5G Network
This year, NTT Data will introduce a private 5G network at The Open, marking a significant technological advancement in network infrastructure at the event. The 5G showcase will demonstrate use cases requiring low latency edge compute and networking, providing high bandwidth, reliability, and security.
“We are honored to continue our partnership with The R&A, marrying the rich heritage of the iconic Open Championship with NTT DATA’s innovative technologies. Our collaboration has not only propelled the championship forward with state-of-the-art technology but also demonstrated our commitment to enhancing global sports and business landscapes alike.” Gregor McQuattie, Head of Media at NTT DATA, expressed pride in the ongoing partnership with The R&A.
“NTT DATA’s long-term partnership enables us to develop new ways to harness the opportunities of modern golf championships, from commercial viability to sustainability and broadening fan engagement. Their insights, and innovative application of technology, particularly the use of data, not only makes golf more accessible and appealing but also ensures The Open is poised to thrive for many years to come.” Professor Steve Otto, Chief Technology Officer at The R&A, highlighted the impact of NTT Data’s innovations.
Planning Permission Granted For Woods and Timberlake’s St Andrews Sports Bar
Tiger Woods and Justin Timberlake are teaming up to breathe new life into the historic New Picture House Cinema in St Andrews, Scotland.
Through their real estate company, Nexus Luxury Collection, the cinema will be transformed into T-Squared Social, a luxury bar complete with sports simulators, duckpin bowling, and darts, while still retaining two cinema screens.
The New Picture House Cinema, which first opened its doors in 1930 and seats 700 people, is facing declining occupancy rates, currently running at less than 10% capacity. The cinema's owners have acknowledged that without significant changes, the venue would likely have to close.
The redevelopment plan by Woods and Timberlake offers a lifeline, ensuring the cinema's survival and modernization. The planning documents emphasize that the bar proposal is crucial for maintaining a cinema offering in St Andrews, allowing locals and tourists to enjoy a broader range of entertainment options.
According to local news outlet Fife Today, Fife Council has endorsed the redevelopment plan, highlighting its potential to protect and enhance the character and appearance of the conservation area. This project promises not only to preserve the cinema's historic architecture but will create between 40 to 45 new jobs.
How all this started?
The idea for T-Squared Social was conceived by Woods and Timberlake during a round of golf at their development in the Bahamas.
Both Woods and Timberlake have deep connections to St Andrews. Woods first played as an amateur in the 1995, and went on to win two of his three Opens at the Old Course St Andrews.
Timberlake is a regular at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on the DP World Tour, which is spread across the Old Course, Carnoustie, and Kingsbarns.
Key features of the building, including the ceiling, walls, and stage, will be maintained. The commitment to retaining these elements underscores the project's respect for the cinema's storied past while ensuring its future viability.
Under the terms of the project approval, work on T-Squared Social must commence within the next three years. This timeline sets the stage for a timely revitalization that balances heritage preservation with modern luxury. As Woods and Timberlake embark on this ambitious project, T-Squared Social is set to become a major attraction in a town that already thrives thanks to golf and its university.
Thompson Seals Record Breaking First Title
When a player enters the final round of a PGA Tour event chasing his first win, the question will always be asked if they can hold on or will they crumble under the pressure.
Davis Thompson took a two shot lead into the final round of the John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run, Silvis, Illinois. He answered the question of how he would cope emphatically on the first green rolling in a 45-foot birdie putt.
Nerves settled, Thompson tore up the front nine in a blistering 29 shots followed up with a more conservative 35 on the back nine for a final round 64 and a four shot victory.
Thompson’s winning score of 28 under par set a new tournament low-scoring record and ensured his place at The Open Championship in two weeks time plus next year’s Masters and PGA Championship.
C.T. Pan came through a tight battle to claim the last spot available for The Open Championship ending up tie for second with Michael Thorbjornsen and amateur Luke Canton. Pan’s superior world ranking to Thorbjonsen sealing his spot at Royal Troon.
Thompson’s victory at the John Deere Classic is the 24th time a player has claimed their first PGA Tour victory at this tournament, higher than any other tour event on the schedule.
Luke Canton’s steller couple of weeks on the PGA Tour would have netted him $804,000 had been a professional. Canton tied 10th at last week’s Rocket Mortgage Classic.
‘But now that I've got my first win, I feel like the work is only beginning. The goal is to play this game for 20-plus years and have a great career.” - Davis Thompson
Ferguson Claims Emotional Victory In Germany
Scotland’s Ewen Ferguson claimed his third DP World Tour title and his first in over a year at the BMW International at Golfclub München Eichenried, Germany.
Ferguson entered the final round tied for the lead with England’s Jordan Smith and the pair could hardly be separated until the 14th where a two-shot swing put Ferguson in the driving seat. Ferguson then held his nerve to secure victory with Smith finishing tied second with Australian, David Micheluzzi.
Ferguson couldn’t hold the tears back on the 18th green, the Scot’s win gives him a place in the field for The Open Championship at Royal Troon in a couple of weeks along with the potential to get into the top 100 of the world rankings for the first time in his career.
"I honestly can't believe it. The last four holes I felt like I was in a dream, I didn't think that this was actually happening, it was crazy I was hitting it so well and so much further than usual.
I just wanted to do it for my dad, my mum, my sister, my brother at home. I love them so much and every shot I hit, I hit with them in mind.” - Ewen Ferguson
Danke Bernard!
Bernhard Langer called time on his DP World Tour career at the BMW International in his native Germany at the Golfclub München Eichenried.
Langer made his debut on the tour in 1974 and in a career than has spanned 50 years notched up:
Two Masters titles
40 DP World Tour victories
Twice order of merit winner (Harry Vardon Trophy)
10 Ryder Cup team appearances recording 5 victories and a tie
Captained the European Team to Ryder Cup success in 2004
Langer was one of the “Big Five” of European players that included Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, Sandy Lyle, and Ian Woosnam who during the eighties and early nineties dominated the DP World Tour, won major championships and made the Ryder Cup less of a one-sided affair.
Sadly, Langer missed the cut in Germany but is likely to return to the Champions Tour in the near future.
"It's hard to put into words. It's kind of been a dream come true for me, growing up in a village of 800 people where nobody knew what golf was,"
"When I told my classmates I'm going to go play golf, they thought I was crazy. I was able to live that dream for 50 years." Bernhard Langer.
And finally, three things to read for the rest of the week:
Are commercial-free telecasts possible? Peter Kostis and Gary McCord’s Off Their Rockers podcast break down the future of golf broadcasting.
Has Golf Outpaced Inflation? We´ve enjoyed this analysis from our Substack colleague Jared Doerfler:
