PGA Tour golfer Andrew Novak says he was a tad surprised to receive a phone call from Keegan Bradley to let him know he did not make the Ryder Cup team.
The American pro had a terrific start to the season, picking up his first title in the team event with Ben Griffin in New Orleans.
More good results followed, and the 30-year-old made it all the way to the Tour Championship at East Lake.
Big-hitting Novak was considered as an outsider to make the 12-strong Team USA squad that will head to Bethpage Black over 26-28 September.
But unfortunately for Novak, some big names stepped up their games over the closing months of the season.
“In the situation I was in I knew how the phone call was going to go,” he told Ryan French aka MondayQInfo.
“I was very appreciative to get one because I had been part of the process for a while, I think. So I definitely appreciate captain Keegan for that.
“But yeah, I kind of knew how it was going to go. I don’t think I was probably his toughest call. So I thanked him for it all.
“I definitely understand that they’re going out trying to win. If by some miracle he called me and said, hey, ‘You’re up’, Like, yeah, I’m going to be ready to go.
“This is a team atmosphere. This is a match play. This is something that I think I will thrive well in when I get my chance.
“But yeah, to earn your way on that team, it takes some special golf. And I just wasn’t there at the end of the year.”
Bradley named his six captain’s picks on 27 August at the PGA of America’s headquarters in Frisno, Texas.
The 39-year-old was expected to name himself among his wildcards, but made the biggest sacrifice of his life by opting not to.
Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Ben Griffin, Cameron Young, Patrick Cantlay and Sam Burns got the nod.
The unlucky ones to miss out included Jordan Spieth, Brooks Koepka, Brian Harman and Maverick McNealy.
“It’s okay to be angry”
Bradley said his most-difficult phone call was to McNealy, who was the highest-ranked player not to be included.
“Very, very difficult call to call Mav,” Bradley said. “Incredible kid, played well all year long.
“I was very up front with the guys that haven’t made the team before. You really have to, in most cases, make the team on points in your first team.
“It’s really difficult to get a pick in your first team event. I made that very clear to him, and he still played great.”
Bradley said he told McNealy it was ‘okay to be angry’, adding: “I left these calls really angry most times. You can use this as fuel.
“I said, please be angry with me and make the next team. Make Brandt’s Presidents Cup team.
“I used that as fuel most of my career, and I advised Mav to do the same thing.
“He made a great run at making this team, and ultimately that was a really tough decision.”