After making an emotional comeback to the PGA Tour, Ben Griffin capped 2025 with two breakthrough victories at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans and the Charles Schwab Challenge, and a season to remember. His first win, captured alongside close friend Andrew Novak, carried special meaning and set the tone for a remarkable campaign that featured 10 top-10 finishes. The result? An iconic and well-deserved Ryder Cup captain’s pick. Novak, however, couldn’t keep up. Yet, carrying the ultimate grace, the golfer showed what sets him apart from the rest…

Or at least that’s what it seemed when the golfer made an appearance on the Monday Q Info YouTube channel. At one point, the host pointed out, “You’re good friends with Ben Griffin. I assume that’s kind of the first thought of the team being named.” That’s when the golfer proudly proclaimed, “He absolutely earned it. He played awesome golf all year…I think, especially with how he played in the playoffs, some really solid finishes. I think he pretty much locked it up. I mean, his play really speaks for itself.”

Furthermore, talking about his own chances, Novak mentioned, “I think the way I played early in the season. I got myself up in the rankings pretty quickly. Keegan was in my ear a lot, just pushing me, trying to give me some motivation. I think I was absolutely in the picture for a bit there…If I had a strong finish to the year, I think I easily could have been in Ben’s position. It could have been both of us going…It just wasn’t myself,“ before adding a bit later, “I fully agree with what Keegan’s done.”

But, despite not making the team himself, Novak holds no hard feelings toward Griffin. In fact, he’s genuinely thrilled for his friend. “I was texting Ben Monday morning…just making sure that he got the call-up…which obviously I’m very happy about. I think he’s going to crush it out there,” he said. The golfer also praised Griffin’s unmatched competitive edge, especially in high-stakes settings like the Ryder Cup: “He can putt when the pressure’s on. I’ve seen it. It’s impressive. He thrives under that.”

Notably, Novak did get off to a strong start, finishing solo third at the Farmers Insurance Open and then capturing a memorable win alongside Ben Griffin at the Zurich Classic after shooting a 1-under 71 in alternate-shot play. He also tied for third at the Valero Texas Open and came heartbreakingly close at the RBC Heritage, losing in a playoff to Justin Thomas. However, after the Zurich Classic triumph, his momentum slowed, as a series of missed cuts and inconsistent rounds followed, preventing him from maintaining the pace that had put him in Ryder Cup contention earlier in the season.

The struggles showed up in full force at the Memorial Tournament, where he tied for 51st—one of his lowest finishes of the year—and carried into the playoffs, where he finished 48th at the BMW Championship. His drop in form was hard to miss, and it’s easy to see why Keegan Bradley would have taken note when making his crucial Ryder Cup captain’s picks. And for Griffin himself, the moment he got picked was no less than the breakthrough moment of the year.

Coming off the Tour Championship, the golfer opened up about his incredible year, “Four years ago I wanted to give up the game forever…and now I’m going to give it all to help this team win at Bethpage. LFG.” After stepping away from golf in 2021 to work as a mortgage loan officer, Griffin returned to the Korn Ferry Tour in 2022 and quickly proved he still had what it takes. His comeback has been one of the sport’s most inspiring stories. 

And while Griffin’s selection was a celebratory moment, it also highlighted the weight of responsibility on Keegan Bradley’s shoulders. His decision-making reflected not just strategy, but the emotional toll of shaping a Ryder Cup roster.

A Heavy-Hearted Decision From The Captain

For Keegan Bradley, stepping aside from playing in the 2025 Ryder Cup was one of the most emotional decisions of his career. “It broke my heart not to play, but I was chosen to lead this team,” he said, reflecting on the personal sacrifice involved. All season, Bradley had considered the rare role of playing captain, with encouragement from players like Bryson DeChambeau making the idea tempting. Yet he realized that balancing playing and captaining could dilute both efforts.

“Being the best captain I could be, and then if I played, I needed to be the best player that I could be. And I was worried I couldn’t do both,” Bradley explained. As the dust settles on the captain’s call, one question lingers: Will this gamble on loyalty over form pay off when the stakes are highest?