Jordan Spieth opens up on Ryder Cup omission: "Maybe I needed it"

Jordan Spieth says he tried not to watch the 2025 Ryder Cup after missing out on making his sixth consecutive appearance for the United States.

Three-time major winner Spieth, 32, faced an uphill battle to make Keegan Bradley's team anyway given he started the season late after undergoing surgery on his wrist. 

His mixed results in the major championships and on the PGA Tour meant he was well out of contention for the six automatic qualifying spots. 

And Bradley decided to take Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Ben Griffin, Cameron Young, Patrick Cantlay and Sam Burns to Bethpage Black in September as his wildcards.

Luke Donald's Europe dominated the first two days of the 45th edition of the Cup, racing into an 11½-4½ lead ahead of the final day. 

Bradley's dozen fought back, taking 8.5 points in the singles but ended up on the receiving end of a 15-13 defeat. 

"It was hard," Spieth told NBC this week. "I didn't watch much at the beginning. I was trying to maybe get away for a little while, but I'd still pull up my phone and check out every match.

"Then on Sunday, we were actually traveling back to town, and I got to watch the singles, and it obviously got very exciting at the end."

Spieth has played nine matches with his good buddy Justin Thomas throughout his Ryder cup, winning four, losing four and sharing a point in one. 

Once again, Thomas showed he was the heartbeat of the US team and rolled in a putt on the 18th hole at Bethpage to deliver a crucial point against Tommy Fleetwood in the second match. 

Moments before Thomas sank that putt, he watched Young do the same to Justin Rose.

Spieth added: "Watching my partner roll in that big putt looked like it might continue a record comeback. It got really exciting there on Sunday, but it was a killer not being there.

"I had been a part of the previous five, and I didn't expect to be there this year when the picks were coming out. I needed to do a little bit more this season.

"Missing that one lit a fire in me. I hit a lot of balls those few days when the tournament was going on, as I do when golf is being played and I’m not there. It was good. 

"Maybe I needed it, a little humbling, and I got back to work."

For his part, US captain Bradley has admitted he made mistakes. 

He conceded the course set-up was wrong and acknowledged some of his pairings deserved scrutiny. 

"Since Bethpage, this has been one of the toughest times in my life," said Bradley.

"You win, it's glory for a lifetime - but I didn't and I'm going to have to sit with this for the rest of my life.

"There's no part of me that thinks I'll ever get over this. This event has been so brutal to me. I'll forever wonder and wish."

The PGA of America have not named the captain for the 2027 Ryder Cup, which is being held at Adare Manor in Ireland. 

There is speculation that Bradley, who was the youngest captain of either side since Arnold Palmer in 1963, will be given another chance. 

Tiger Woods is the clear frontrunner to succeed Bradley. 

Brandt Snedeker, who will captain the 2026 US Presidents Cup team, Webb Simpson, Steve Stricker, Jim Furyk, Fred Couples and Stewart Cink are among the other candidates. 

Donald has been given some time to decide whether he wants to continue. 

It is understood that Francesco Molinari, a former Open champ and the brother of Europe's stats guru Edoardo, will take the reins should Donald turn the role down.