{"id":106091,"date":"2025-08-29T19:30:06","date_gmt":"2025-08-29T19:30:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/106091\/"},"modified":"2025-08-29T19:30:06","modified_gmt":"2025-08-29T19:30:06","slug":"pga-tour-golfer-opens-up-on-ryder-cup-disappointment-i-knew-how-that-call-was-going-to-go","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/106091\/","title":{"rendered":"PGA Tour golfer opens up on Ryder Cup disappointment: “I knew how that call was going to go”"},"content":{"rendered":"

PGA Tour golfer Andrew Novak says he was a tad surprised to receive a phone call from Keegan Bradley to let him know he did not make the Ryder Cup<\/a> team.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The American pro had a terrific start to the season, picking up his first title in the team event with Ben Griffin in New Orleans.\u00a0<\/p>\n

More good results followed, and the 30-year-old made it all the way to the Tour Championship<\/a> at East Lake.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Big-hitting Novak was considered as an outsider to make the 12-strong Team USA squad that will head to Bethpage Black over 26-28 September.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But unfortunately for Novak, some big names stepped up their games over the closing months of the season.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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“In the situation I was in I knew how the phone call was going to go,” he told Ryan French aka MondayQInfo<\/a>.<\/p>\n

“I was very appreciative to get one because I had been part of the process for a while, I think. So I definitely appreciate captain Keegan<\/a> for that.<\/p>\n

“But yeah, I kind of knew how it was going to go. I don’t think I was probably his toughest call. So I thanked him for it all.<\/p>\n

“I definitely understand that they’re going out trying to win. If by some miracle he called me and said, hey, ‘You’re up’, Like, yeah, I’m going to be ready to go.<\/p>\n

“This is a team atmosphere. This is a match play. This is something that I think I will thrive well in when I get my chance.<\/p>\n

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“But yeah, to earn your way on that team, it takes some special golf. And I just wasn’t there at the end of the year.”<\/p>\n

Bradley named his six captain’s picks on 27 August at the PGA of America’s headquarters in Frisno, Texas.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The 39-year-old was expected to name himself among his wildcards, but made the biggest sacrifice of his life by opting not to.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Justin Thomas<\/a>, Collin Morikawa<\/a>, Ben Griffin<\/a>, Cameron Young<\/a>, Patrick Cantlay<\/a> and Sam Burns<\/a> got the nod.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The unlucky ones to miss out included Jordan Spieth<\/a>, Brooks Koepka<\/a>, Brian Harman and Maverick McNealy.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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“It’s okay to be angry”<\/p>\n

Bradley said his most-difficult phone call was to McNealy, who was the highest-ranked player not to be included.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“Very, very difficult call to call Mav,” Bradley said. “Incredible kid, played well all year long.<\/p>\n

“I was very up front with the guys that haven’t made the team before. You really have to, in most cases, make the team on points in your first team.<\/p>\n

“It’s really difficult to get a pick in your first team event. I made that very clear to him, and he still played great.”<\/p>\n

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Bradley said he told McNealy it was ‘okay to be angry’, adding: “I left these calls really angry most times. You can use this as fuel.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“I said, please be angry with me and make the next team. Make Brandt’s Presidents Cup team.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“I used that as fuel most of my career, and I advised Mav to do the same thing.<\/p>\n

“He made a great run at making this team, and ultimately that was a really tough decision.”<\/p>\n

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