Keegan Bradley (USA) has made the surprise decision not to select himself as a playing captain for next month's Ryder Cup against Europe at Bethpage Black. The world No 11 announced his six wildcard picks without including his own name, defying widespread expectations on both sides of the Atlantic.
Bradley selected Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Ben Griffin, Cameron Young, Patrick Cantlay and Sam Burns to join the automatic qualifiers. They will team up with Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, JJ Spaun, Russell Henley, Harris English and Bryson DeChambeau for the revenge mission after defeat in Rome two years ago.
The decision breaks with significant external pressure and expert opinion that Bradley should play. Arnold Palmer in 1963 remains the last Ryder Cup playing captain, with golf luminaries including Rory McIlroy, Sir Nick Faldo and Tom Watson believing replicating it in the modern era would be impossible.
Bradley's recent form strengthened arguments for his inclusion. With six top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour since his shock appointment in July 2024 and a win at the Travelers Championship, he was clearly among the best 12 American players available.
External pressure mounts
The pressure intensified when Donald Trump posted on social media last week urging Bradley to play, according to reports. The decision also comes as Team USA secured a significant victory in negotiations over player compensation, with each team member set to receive $500,000 for participating, according to sources.
Bradley addressed the difficult choice directly. "This was a really tough decision," he said. "I would say there was a point this year that I was playing, but all these guys stepped up. It was extremely difficult but I am very happy with these six players."
The 39-year-old emphasised his team-first approach. "I grew up wanting to play Ryder Cups and fighting alongside these guys," Bradley continued. "But I was chosen to be captain and my ultimate goal was to be the best captain I could be. If I felt the team was better with me on that, I would do that."
Strategic leadership
Bradley acknowledged the practical challenges of dual roles. Prime among them would be making crucial pairing decisions for afternoon sessions while morning play continues, alongside managing the intense commercial and media responsibilities.
The captaincy situation itself has been marked by uncertainty, with Tiger Woods initially the first-choice option before Bradley received the unexpected call 59 weeks ago. As world No 19 at the time, his potential selection dilemma was evident from the start.
Notable omissions from the final 12-man team include former Open champion Brian Harman, Jordan Spieth, Brooks Koepka, Patrick Reed, Maverick McNealy and Scottish Open winner Chris Gotterup. The team will face Luke Donald's European side in what promises to be an intense battle for the trophy.
Sources used: "Daily Mail", "Guardian", "Mirror", "Metro", "Independent", "Evening Standard", "Belfast Live" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
