Keegan Bradley has won a Major championship, but he’s never felt more pleased to be on a golf course than he did on the first hole of Tuesday’s practice round at the 2012 Ryder Cup.

“I was walking to the first tee and it was the proudest moment of my career and it happened on a Tuesday at the Ryder Cup,” Bradley said.

Bradley earned the rookie of the year honours last year after a brilliant debut season on the PGA Tour which featured a victory at the PGA Championship in Atlanta. He also had two tournament wins.

Raring to go: Keegan Bradley can’t wait to begin his Ryder Cup campaign. — EPA

The 26-year-old is one of four rookies on the USA team which will square off against the European team, beginning tomorrow at the Medinah Country Club.

Bradley comes from a golfing family. At a very young age he remembers his aunt Pat Bradley playing for Solheim Cup teams.

Asked on Tuesday following his practice round, at what age he first started thinking of playing for the US, Bradley said, “since I was probably five or six to be honest with you. It grew up watching my aunt Pat play on Solheim Cup teams, so it’s been a dream of mine to be on a team like this.”

Dustin Johnson can relate to Bradley’s excitement about representing team USA this week. Johnson competed in his first Ryder Cup two years ago and said there is nothing like it, especially when you are playing on home soil.

“Every week we go out and we play tournaments. You’re always playing for yourself and the people you represent, whether it’s your club company or some sponsors. But ultimately your playing for you,” Johnson said.

“Coming to the Ryder Cup you’re not just playing for yourself; you’re playing for the whole country. You’re playing for team USA.

“It’s a totally different feeling. Everything about the Ryder Cup is different than what we’re used to and what we do.

“Walking out on the first tee today, it’s totally different because we’re going out as Team USA, not as Dustin Johnson.”

Johnson said he expects to be nervous when he tees off tomorrow but he’s played enough to know that once he hits a good drive or sinks a tricky putt his confidence soars.” — AFP

• Please wait.

• Cycling: Leader Van Garderen wins California time trial
• Golf: Keegan Bradley maintains Byron Nelson lead
• Golf: Korda seizes lead at Mobile Bay LPGA
• Bradley stays in charge, Guan exits
• Hall of Famer Venturi dies aged 82
• Formula One: Increased venom as F1 tyre war erupts again
• Rugby: It's all I have to play for, says Wilkinson
• Doping battle at breaking point
• Cricket: Haq nets record and a duck in Scotland warm-up
• Cricket: Anderson bowls England back into first Test