Keegan Bradley kicks off PGA Championship week with big Ryder Cup claim

Former PGA Championship winner Keegan Bradley says he's finally starting to feel better after overseeing Team USA's brutal Ryder Cup defeat at Bethpage Black and is targeting a return as a player. 

Bradley was named as the surprise captain to lead the United States on home soil last September in New York. 

He was expected to lead the red, white and blue to a victory given how dominant home advantage has become in the Ryder Cup. 

But Bradley's men were defeated by two points, leaving the PGA Tour veteran completely and utterly devastated. 

In the immediate aftermath of the Ryder Cup, an inconsolable Bradley claimed that he would "never get over" the defeat and doubled down on that position before last month's Masters. 

But ahead of the second men's major of the year, Bradley said he's finally starting to see feel better.

"I really am," he told reporters at Aronimink Golf Club. "The last couple months, I've started to feel more like myself. Sometimes I'm a little too honest with how I'm feeling and it gets me in some weird spots.

"It was tough after the Ryder Cup and is it still is. I'll be driving down the road and things will pop into my head and think about things I had done or wish I had done different.

"Getting back out here and getting in the routine, I'm playing some better golf and I'm starting to feel a little bit more like myself out there, and I'm feeling a little bit more separated from Bethpage.

"As time goes on and I'm able to play another major, play some bigger tournaments, hopefully put myself in contention, those things will sort of kind of get back into the distance."

Bradley was ranked inside the top 15 of the Official World Golf Ranking in the build-up to the Ryder Cup. 

A victory at the Travelers Championship led many to believe he would become the first playing captain since Arnold Palmer in 1963. 

Bradley ultimately decided against picking himself and he hasn't ruled out being named among Jim Furyk's dozen for next September's matches at Adare Manor in Ireland. 

"I've been thinking a lot about that," said Bradley. "It's going to be really hard, I know that. I'll be 41 when that happens. But what a cool story it would be. How fun would that be?

"I've sort of resigned myself. Ryder Cup's just so brutal to me over the years in every way. In every single way it's been brutal, and I have a tough time focusing in on something like that because of how tough it's been.

"I told myself after [being overlooked in] Rome I was never going to get that emotionally invested. 

"I was going to play my game and try to get on the team. But I'd really like to make that team in Ireland. I'd really love to play for Jim Furyk, who is an idol of mine, but also become a great friend and mentor.

"Getting to know the guys; the guys on the team last year changed my life. Changed who I am as a person, and I would love to play on a Ryder Cup with them."

Bradley's PGA Championship take

The PGA Championship is often considered among golf fans as the runt of the litter. 

Some even claim the tournament has lost its identity and should change date. 

Bradley, though, was clear about what makes it unique. 

"[The] PGA of America has been really important in my career," he said. "My dad is a PGA professional, taught me the game. 

"He was the head pro at golf courses where I could practice. PGA of America has always been really special to me.

"Playing in Ryder Cups and being the Ryder Cup captain I've gotten to know a lot of PGA of America people, which makes it extra personal.

"I think what separates the PGA to other majors is they have no agenda at this tournament. [Chief championship officer] Kerry Haigh does an unbelievable job setting up major championship golf courses. 

"You go to the U.S. Open, you know their agenda is they are going to make this ridiculously hard to the point of being unfair.

"You know, at the British Open, the weather, and the Masters is the Masters. It's just going to be tough and stressful.

"PGA Championship could be three-under could win. Could be 15-under. They just want to host a great tournament, and I think they do an incredible job of that."