Keegan Bradley’s Decision for Ryder Cup
Keegan Bradley has decided not to select himself as the captain for Team USA in the upcoming Ryder Cup next month. Rather, the 39-year-old will join the team as a player, alongside notable names like Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Ben Griffin, Cameron Young, Patrick Cantlay, and Sam Burns.
This decision comes on the heels of Rory McIlroy’s recent comments, where he expressed that he finds it quite challenging to be a playing captain, opting to pass on future opportunities for it. In response to McIlroy, Bradley seemed indifferent, showing no eagerness to challenge his statements.
Bradley mentioned, “The decision that I wasn’t playing was made some time ago.” He added, “I’m not worried about what they say or do. It’s not really my concern. I wish I could’ve reached out to Arnold Palmer for some guidance. The Ryder Cup today is a different beast compared to the ’60s.” It’s certainly a testament to how the game has evolved over the decades.
Having participated in both the 2012 and 2014 Ryder Cups, which ended in losses for the U.S., Bradley finished as the 11th-ranked U.S. golfer in 2023. However, he was overlooked for a spot as Sam Burns, Rickie Fowler, and Justin Thomas were favored instead. Interestingly enough, Cameron Young, despite ranking ninth, also didn’t make the cut.
Earlier this month, it was revealed that Bradley will succeed Zach Johnson as Team USA’s captain.
Much of the buzz surrounding his potential captaincy surged after he won the Travelers Championship, a tournament in which he made an impressive birdie on the 18th hole—an achievement that had him contemplating a higher place within the FedEx Cup standings. He’s experiencing quite a climb, now sitting as the 11th player globally.
In an unexpected twist, former President Donald Trump expressed support for Bradley to lead the U.S. Ryder Cup team, stating, “Keegan Bradley should definitely be on the American Ryder Cup team – as captain! He’s a great guy. It’ll make for a fantastic Ryder Cup. With the PGA Tour’s invitation, I’ll be attending the tournament on Friday!”
On another note, players like Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Russell Henley, J.J. Spaun, Harris English, and Bryson DeChambeau have all secured their spots through automatic qualification.
The Ryder Cup is set to kick off on September 26th. Remarkably, the away team has not claimed victory since the miraculous win in Medina back in 2012. In fact, the home team has convincingly claimed the last five Ryder Cups. It’s shaping up to be a fascinating competition.
