Brooks Koepka Reacts to Missing Ryder Cup
Brooks Kepka’s missing out on the US RDER Cup, a tale of timing and tension. Brooks Kepka, the US RDER Cup stalwart since 2016, found himself at the center of a surprising spotlight after missing out on the team that would have marked his fifth consecutive appearance. While many athletes blame external factors, Kepka insists the answer lies squarely in the mirror. His absence from captain Keegan Bradley’s six captain’s picks for the Beth Page event felt like an unfamiliar anomaly in a year where the golfing world often defaults to blaming others. Kepka’s journey to the RDER Cup stage has been a consistent presence for years. Yet this time the absence was stark. The 35-year-old who has represented the US in each of the last four RDER Cups now finds himself excluded from the final list of six players selected by Bradley. This decision feels like a departure from the norm, especially given the competitive landscape of the sport. Ryson de Shambo, the live golf phenom, managed to secure a spot on the US team with an automatic qualifier. While Kepka struggled to capitalize on his few opportunities to earn ranking points or impress Bradley in 2025, “I played my way off it,” Kepa admitted in a recent interview, acknowledging that his performance was downright bad. He emphasized that the issue wasn’t live golf itself, but rather the timing of his year, especially the gap between the Rder Cup and the subsequent major championships. “It’s not about the sport, it’s about the calendar,” he explained. Despite a T12 finish at the US Open and a missed cut in the other three majors, Kepka opted out of all events outside the Live Golf schedule in 2025. He explicitly denied framing his situation as an excuse, stating that the challenges of being on live golf and playing poorly were the real factors. “It’s just the timing of the year and trying to get that ball rolling,” he said, underscoring that his absence wasn’t a result of the tournament itself. Kepka ultimately finished 76th on the US RDER Cup points list, a position that feels like a bitter pill to swallow. Bradley’s 12man squad featuring Justin Thomas, Colin Morawa, Patrick Kentley, Sam Burns, Ben Griffin, and Cameron Young represents a calculated move to bolster the US team. Yet for Kepka, the absence is more than just a missed opportunity. It’s a reminder of the unpredictable nature of sports and the often overlooked role of individual performance. But here’s where it gets controversial. While De Shambo’s path to the US team was clear, Kepka’s struggles raised questions about the criteria for selection. Is it fair to prioritize players with automatic qualifications over those who demonstrate consistent skill? And what does it mean for the sport when the best players are forced to navigate competing schedules and personal challenges? What do you think? Should the LIV golf era redefine how teams select their players? Do you agree that timing and performance are more critical than pedigree? Leave your thoughts in the comments below. We’d love to hear your
Brooks Koepka shares his honest reaction to missing out on the Ryder Cup team.
He had been a staple on the U.S. Ryder Cup team since 2016, but this year he didn’t make the cut.
Koepka finished T-12 at the U.S. Open, but missed the cut in the other three major championships.
He knows exactly why he didn’t make the team and takes full responsibility for his performance.
Koepka has represented the U.S. in each of the last four Ryder Cups, so missing out this year is unfamiliar territory.
He isn’t making excuses for his LIV Golf situation, but rather owns up to his bad timing and poor play.
Find out what Koepka had to say about missing the Ryder Cup team and what’s next for him.
