BAFFLED golf fans joked “Europe are already 1up” after Keegan Bradley’s awkward blunder in the Ryder Cup opening ceremony.
The US team captain addressed the crowd on stage at Bethpage Black on Wednesday afternoon.
Keegan Bradley accidentally referenced Justin Rose during his Ryder Cup opening ceremony speech[/caption]
The blunder prompted giggles from the European team[/caption]
The ceremony was brought forward by 24 hours due to heavy thunderstorms forecast for Thursday.
And it appeared Bradley, 39, may have needed the extra time to go back over and rehearse his speech.
The 2011 PGA Championship winner spoke about how he fell in love with the Ryder Cup watching the Battle of Brookline in 1999.
But when he referenced Justin Leonard’s putt on the 17th in his singles against Jose Maria Olazabal which guaranteed America the ½ point to clinch the win, Bradley got himself in a muddle.
He said: “The Ryder Cup became personal for me in 1999 at Brookline.
“I was 13 years old, perched on my dad’s shoulders, watching Justin Rose’s miracle putt drop on 17.”
Seemingly unaware of his mix-up, Bradley continued: “When the crowd erupted on 18, my dad let me join in on the celebration.
“That was the moment golf stopped being a game and started being a calling. That day changed my life.”
To make matters worse, both Rose and Olazabal were sat just a few meters away from Bradley when he made the public mistake.
Rose – who was 19 in 1999 – and some of his European team-mates could not resist a cheeky snigger, with even the professional Donald allowing himself a wry smile.
And the error was picked up by confused fans in the audience in New York – as well as those watching on TV.
Many of them took to social media to rip into Bradley.
One said: “Bradley referencing Justin Rose’s miracle putt on the 17th in 1999 as his inspiration… Europe 1up already.”
Another wrote: “Living in their heads rent-free, Justin.”
A third added: “Well, after those Captain speeches and Keegan Bradley’s ‘Justin Rose putt at Brookline…’ f*** up, I’d say Europe are 1up already.”
A fourth joked: “Mega brainfart.”
A fifth replied: “Justin Rose played for USA in 1999? Bradley’s cracking already.”
And a final user quipped: “Hope Keenan Bradley has prepared his team better than he prepared his speech.”
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THE 45th Ryder Cup takes place from September 26-28 with the US team desperate to wrestle back the crown from Europe.
Scottie Scheffler and the American side will battle Rory McIlroy’s European team in New York.
The infamous Bethpage Black course will be the venue for the latest edition of the pulsating golf tournament.
NBC will broadcast the competition in it’s entirety in the United States.
Friday’s foursomes and fourballs will be live on USA Network from 7 am ET to 6 pm ET.
Saturday’s action will take place during the same hours live on NBC.
And Sunday’s singles will also be on NBC from 12 pm ET to 6 pm ET.
Fans can sign up to Fubo TV by CLICKING HERE and watch the Ryder Cup through NBC’s channels.
There were other criticisms that Bradley was too tall for the microphone set-up and could not be heard to start with – prompting heckles – before stooping down to give his monologue.
The bumbling skipper was also accused of nervously reading a script and spending too long talking about himself.
Moments earlier, European counterpart Luke Donald – who spoke in Italian at Rome in 2023 – delivered a brilliant, clean-cut speech all about what the Ryder Cup means for the team and the continent.
The opening ceremony started with a video montage voiced by Jimmy Fallon before the two teams were introduced.
Bradley even appeared to fail to read the players’ names in the right order – saying Russell Henley’s name before Ben Griffin despite the rest being done alphabetically.
New York governor Kathy Hochul and the European players, especially talisman Rory McIlroy, were booed by the partizan crowd.
And the curtain-raiser closed with the USA national anthem – as three helicopters flew over Bethpage Black.
Rose was not part of the 1999 European team[/caption]
It was Justin Leonard who sunk the crucial putt for USA[/caption]
Europe’s Wags put on a show in all white for the ceremony[/caption]
