Phil Mickelson Left Stranded as National Call-Up Door Closes at His Face
The golf gods aren’t smiling on Phil Mickelson this season, with a string of missed cuts at the first three men’s majors, including the 2025 U.S. Open, which reportedly dashed his last chance at a career Grand Slam. Despite a disappointing season, including struggles at LIV Golf, a golf insider showed support for Mickelson when it comes to another big golf event at Bethpage Black, suggesting “Keegan should put Phil Mickelson in as an assistant captain [in the Ryder Cup].” However, Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley’s latest U.S. team update has seemingly shut that door on Mickelson.
Ahead of the recent announcement from Keegan Bradley, the U.S. team boasted a total of four vice-captains, including Jim Furyk, Kevin Kisner, Webb Simpson, and Brandt Snedeker. In contrast, European captain Luke Donald has only appointed three assistants so far: Edoardo Molinari, Thomas Bjorn, and Jose Maria Olazabal. Despite little expectation of a fifth addition for the U.S. team, Bradley did announce another vice-captain, effectively shutting the door on Phil Mickelson’s potential National Duty role.
As per Bradley’s Wednesday announcement, U.S. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley appointed Gary Woodland as the fifth and final vice captain for the American team. Gary Woodland, the 2019 U.S. Open champion, has no Ryder Cup experience, but he did play in the 2019 Presidents Cup for the U.S. team under Tiger Woods. However, Woodland’s Ryder Cup experience – or lack thereof – stands in sharp contrast to that of Mickelson’s.
Phil Mickelson knows Bethpage Black well—he’s played there five times, including two second-place finishes at the U.S. Open in 2002 and 2009. He’s also one of the most experienced Ryder Cup players in U.S. history, having competed in every event from 1995 to 2018, with 12 appearances and three wins, and even served as a vice captain in 2021. So why isn’t he part of the team this time?
Mickelson addressed that question in a 2024 interview on ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show.” He said, “I don’t feel like I’m the right person to be involved with the team right now because I’m kind of a polarizing figure—and I get that.” He explained that his involvement with LIV Golf has stirred up a lot of tension, and he doesn’t believe he’d be the best fit to lead or support the team at this moment.
While Keegan Bradley hasn’t spoken publicly about Mickelson’s absence, he’s clearly excited about Gary Woodland stepping in for his first Ryder Cup leadership role.
Keegan Bradley has an “incredible amount of respect” for Gary Woodland
On Wednesday, Keegan Bradley announced the fifth vice captain for the U.S. Ryder Cup team, expressing deep respect for Gary Woodland. “I really admire Gary and everything he’s accomplished in golf,” Bradley said. “He’s a major winner and still playing at a high level, so he understands what it takes to perform under pressure.”
Woodland responded with equal enthusiasm. “Keegan’s energy around this event is contagious, and I’m honored to be a part of it,” he said. “With just over two months until we’re at Bethpage, I’m all in and ready to support Keegan, the rest of the vice captains, and the team however I can.”
While Woodland hasn’t played in a Ryder Cup before, his credentials are impressive. He won the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach with a 13-under finish and has notched 56 top-10s over 383 career starts. He’s respected by fellow players and fans alike, and after undergoing serious brain surgery in late 2023, he’s still pushing through complications to stay in the game. His perseverance earned him the PGA Tour Courage Award in February.
Despite those challenges, Woodland’s fired up about the opportunity. “I’m incredibly excited and thankful to Keegan for bringing me on board,” he said. And honestly, his excitement is hard not to catch. With the Ryder Cup set for September 26–28 at Bethpage Black in New York, fans can look forward to seeing how Woodland and the rest of the U.S. leadership team rally to bring the cup back home from Europe.
