The first direct message I received to my X account from a male golf follower I didn’t know began: Is it worth money if I know who the next Ryder Cup captain is? If not no big deal.
He had a blue check mark by his name on X and I accepted the request and responded two hours later: I’m not sure I fully understand what you’re asking me but who the next US Ryder Cup captain is going to be in a topic I’m interested in.
Of course, I could read through the lines of what he was asking and the idea of a journalist paying for such news is always going to be a hard no.
On the morning of June 27, he responded: “I’m sure everyone bull shits they know. But I actually know, and was wondering if telling a journalist or news outlet was worth money, of course only if it’s validated.”
Now he was laying his cards on the table and I responded in kind.
“I thought that might be what you were getting at. Journalists don’t play for content or interviews. I feel like National Enquirer would do that for a picture of a celebrity doing something salacious. Maybe an outlet like Barstool Sports would do it. My company would not. All I can offer is credit for the scoop and maybe a story on how you happen to know. Someday you’ll have to tell me. I bet it’s a good one.”
“Got it,” he wrote back. “Appreciate it.”
I suggested that he might be able to place a wager with an overseas betting outlet and took another stab at getting him to play by my rules. “If you can take any personal satisfaction in helping break a story, you know where to find me.”
He went dark on me until late at night on July 7 when he wrote: “I wish I had a spot to bet it.”
The following morning at 8:36 a.m., I wrote back: “Official announcement at noon tomorrow. The clock is ticking.”
Crickets. So, an hour later, I took one last stab: “Still not too late to let me know who it is and how you know!”
At 11:07 a.m., he replied, “I can’t betray trust!”
“I’m hearing Stewart Cink,” I countered, but he didn’t answer me.
Word began trickling out. Apparently, a camera had been left on at the NASDAQ building in New York where Bradley was going through media training ahead of the news conference set for noon the following day. Bob Harig of Sports Illustrated gets credit for breaking the story.
At 12:07 p.m., I wrote back, “Keegan? I don’t think I would’ve believed you if you told me. Can’t wait to hear how you knew.”
“Yeah, haha, I wish I could have said something. Wife had me by the balls,” he wrote.
I had missed out on one of the biggest scoops of the year. The PGA confirmed Bradley as the U.S. team captain in an Instagram post that afternoon after word leaked out. But I had known how my mystery X follower had known weeks ahead of the announcement. When I asked he wrote back, “My son and his son (are) best friends and wives close. He and I have a peripheral relationship – so obviously wives’ chat.”
I kidded with him that he should’ve flown to the UK, had a weekend and place a bet on Bradley to be Ryder Cup captain and he could’ve paid for the whole thing and his kid’s college education.
I closed by saying, and you should’ve told me!
“Totally right,” he said.
If you’ve made it this far, let me give you the real payoff for your time. He dished out one tidbit that hadn’t been reported: “Also, word is first playing captain since Arnie. Supposedly part of the deal – “blowing the entire thing up.”
Bradley was officially introduced at a press conference on July 9. That night, I got one final DM: Told you he’s going to play!”
On Wednesday, Aug. 27, Bradley will make his six captain’s pick and decide if he will be the first playing captain since Arnold Palmer in 1963. I wish I knew if Captain Bradley’s wife has been chatting again, but so far his intel has been spot on.
