\u201cIt\u2019s a complicated question because I\u2019m really proud of the way I\u2019ve played. I think in a lot of ways it\u2019s the best year of my career,\u201d Bradley said. \u201cMy rookie year I won twice with a major, so that\u2019s going to be tough to beat. But with everything that was going on, I\u2019m really proud of the way that I played.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut when you factor in losing the Ryder Cup, I mean, it\u2019s an F … you\u2019ve got to go and win that and this grade\u2019s different. It\u2019s really tough to grade. I was talking to my coach, he said, \u2018remember, you won this year.\u2019 I was like, no, I don\u2019t remember that at all. It was a unique year. I think a year that really no other player has ever experienced. I\u2019m proud of the way I played certainly, but the end of the year was difficult.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bradley, 39, has eight PGA Tour victories and is ranked 14th in OWGR. But the Ryder Cup, where he elected not to play despite being a prime candidate to be on the team, still lingers more than two months later.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe darkest time of my life probably,\u201d he said. \u201cI don\u2019t know how else to describe it. Certainly, definitely of my career. There\u2019s always this letdown after a Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup regardless of the outcome because the emotions are so extreme. It\u2019s Ryder Cup hangover and you\u2019re just exhausted and you\u2019re down, you know. That takes a toll on you.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut there\u2019s just … it just was a tough time. Still is. But to be honest with you, the last couple weeks I\u2019ve felt more like myself. Getting back, getting ready to play tournaments, playing the Skins Game, getting ready to come play here. Really, it\u2019s been tough for all of us; not just me, the players as well. I feel like every time I see a player on the team here I want to just go give him a hug and sit down and chat. But I\u2019m grateful for everybody. I\u2019m in a unique position where I could make another team, which has never been done. I would love to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Keegan Bradley beat, Xander Schauffele, Shane Lowry and Tommy Fleetwood last week in the Skins Game. \/ Mike Ehrmann\/Getty Images<\/p>\n