Simpson and Snedeker named U.S. Vice Captains for 2025 Ryder Cup
U.S. Ryder Cup Captain Keegan Bradley has named Webb Simpson and Brandt Snedeker as two of his Vice Captains for the 45th Ryder Cup, which will be played Sept. 26–28, 2025, at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, New York.
Simpson was the first Vice Captain to be appointed by Bradley, followed three weeks later by Snedeker. Additional Vice Captains will be announced at a later date.
“Webb is someone who I have long admired and respected as a competitor and friend,” says Bradley. “He possesses a wealth of team golf experience and knows what it takes to win. Webb will be a valuable member of our leadership team and a trusted resource for me.”
The 2025 Ryder Cup will mark Simpson’s first as a Vice Captain. The 38-year-old played in three Ryder Cups (2012, ’14, ’18), compiling a 4-4-1 career record, including 2-1-0 in four-ball.
“I am honored to be chosen by Keegan to serve as a Vice Captain in 2025,” says Simpson. “I have no doubt that Keegan will be a fantastic Captain and a tremendous leader.”
This will also be Snedeker’s first appearance as a Vice Captain. The 43-year-old owns a 4-2-0 career record in two Ryder Cup appearances (2012, ’16). He went 3-0-0 as the only undefeated American in 2016 to help the U.S. Team capture a dominant 17-11 victory at Hazeltine National in Chaska, Minnesota.
“As I’ve started preparing for the 2025 Ryder Cup, I quickly realized that Brandt was someone I wanted by my side,” explains Bradley. “Having competed in two Ryder Cups, including a stellar individual performance in 2016, Brandt’s experience and insight will surely be beneficial to our team in the months ahead.”
Adds Snedeker, “I am so grateful to Keegan and the PGA of America for giving me the opportunity to represent my country in the role of Vice Captain. The Ryder Cup is unlike anything in our sport.”
PGA Golf Club to host three PGA of America Member Championships in 2025
The PGA of America has announced that PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida, will host the PGA Professional Championship, Senior PGA Professional Champion-ship and Assistant PGA Professional Championship in 2025.
The PGA Professional Championship presented by Club Car, Corebridge Financial and Rolex will be contested April 27–30 on PGA Golf Club’s Wanamaker and Ryder Courses. The Senior PGA Professional Championship is slated for October, also on the Wanamaker and Ryder Courses, while the Assistant PGA Professional Championship will take place in November on the Wanamaker Course.
“The PGA of America is proud to take three of our highly-anticipated Member Championships to PGA Golf Club in 2025,” says PGA of America President John Lindert. “PGA Golf Club has proven to be a special venue for our marquee Member Championships as the Wanamaker and Ryder courses provide a captivating challenge for our talented PGA of America Golf Professionals.”
This is the second time the PGA Professional Championship will be contested at PGA Golf Club; it was previously held there in 2021. The Senior PGA Professional Championship will return to PGA Golf Club for the 16th time in 2025, having last hosted in 2023.
This announcement reflects the PGA of America’s long-term commitment to our property and the Port St. Lucie community,” says PGA Golf Club General Manager Jeremy Wiernasz, PGA. “Owned and operated by the PGA of America, PGA Golf Club has hosted every PGA of America Member Championship, as well as the PGA Tournament Series and Winter Championships.”
U.S. Team Seeks Third Straight Women’s PGA Cup
The host venues, team captains, international team members, and team uniforms change from competition to competition, but a tradition of constants has emerged entering the third edition of the Women’s PGA Cup Oct. 3–5 at scenic Sunriver (Oregon) Resort.
The Cup constants you can bank on? The Women’s PGA Cup has always been played on American soil, the U.S. Team is captained by the sitting PGA of America President, and the biennial competition has consistently become a watershed event in building camaraderie among the competing nations, while promoting goodwill for the women’s game internationally.
Other constants include a tradition of high drama, the U.S. Team winning – but just barely – and our American neighbors from the north, Canada, regularly finishing second.
If history is a barometer, the 2024 Women’s PGA Cup will be another closely contested competition, with the host U.S. squad captained by PGA of America President John Lindert battling five-women teams from Australia, Canada, Great Britain-Ireland, Sweden and South Africa in the 54-hole stroke-play competition, with three of five scores daily contributing to the team aggregate.
U.S. Team Claims First Cup
In the inaugural Women’s PGA Cup in 2019, the U.S. Team captained by then-PGA of America President Suzy Whaley built a 10-stroke advantage after the first day, but had to hold off a strong Canadian rally on the final day to secure a four-stroke victory at Barton Creek Resort in Austin, Texas.
That first Women’s PGA Cup featured Indiana PGA Section Player of the Year Brittany Kelly of Indianapolis anchoring the U.S. Team with her spirited play after competing in the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship earlier in 2019. Tragically, Kelly lost a 19-month battle with ovarian cancer on Aug. 31, 2021, at age 32.
“Brittany was a true team leader in the first Women’s PGA Cup. She was a fighter on and off the course,” observed Whaley after learning of Kelly’s passing. “She and the other team members made that first Women’s PGA Cup a major win for women’s golf.”
Americans Repeat in 2022
Delayed a year by the coronavirus pandemic, the 2022 U.S. Team wore commemorative ribbons in honor of Kelly for the second Women’s PGA Cup conducted at Twin Warriors Golf Club in Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico. Joanna Coe and Ashley Grier, members of the inaugural PGA Women’s Cup for Team USA, joined Stephanie Connelly-Eiswerth, Sherry Andonian and Jennifer Borocz to help the U.S. Team overcome a five-shot deficit at one point in the final round to secure a narrow two-shot victory over Canada.
Connelly-Eiswerth, a PGA of America/LPGA Teaching Professional at San Jose Country Club and a North Florida PGA Section Member, was the U.S. Team sparkplug, putting together back-to-back 3-under-par 70s on the closing two days to elevate the U.S. to a 656-658 triumph over Canada. Great Britain & Ireland (662) finished in third place, followed by Australia, Sweden and South Africa, which was competing in the PGA Cup for the first time.
Connelly-Eiswerth’s par on the par-4 18th hole clinched the title in 2022 at Twin Warriors. She was immediately hugged by teammates as the celebration began. She will lead Team USA again at the 2024 Women’s PGA Cup on the Meadows Course at Sunriver Resort (the remainder of the team will be determined after this issue goes to press).
“The Women’s PGA Cup was everything I thought it would be and more,” recalls Connelly-Eiswerth. “We don’t get the opportunity to play team golf very often, so it was great to see how everyone bonded together.”
Meadows Hosts Member Championships
The Women’s PGA Cup will follow the PGA Cup and the Senior PGA Professional Championship, giving Sunriver Resort three consecutive PGA Member Championships on the Meadows Course.
“The PGA of America is ecstatic to be conducting three of our marquee Member Championships at Sunriver Resort in 2024,” says Lindert. “The PGA Cup and Women’s PGA Cup are premier international competitions, while the Senior PGA Professional Championship annually features over 200 of our Association’s most talented PGA Professionals.”
—Roger Graves