Keegan Bradley’s Ryder Cup conundrum: Can he captain Group USA AND function as a participant at Bethpage Black? | Golf Information

Keegan Bradley seems to be to guide Group USA to Ryder Cup glory this September, however may his position develop from captaincy to additionally that includes as a participant after his newest PGA Tour success?

Bradley was introduced final summer season as the following Group USA captain, following Tiger Woods turning down the position, with the previous PGA Championship champion succeeding Zach Johnson and tasked with regaining the trophy at Bethpage Black.

The 39-year-old will develop into the youngest American Ryder Cup captain since Arnold Palmer in 1963, whereas there stays the likelihood that Bradley may replicate what Palmer did in that 12 months’s contest and function a playing-captain for Group USA.

What has led to Bradley shifting nearer to a twin Ryder Cup position? Will Bradley qualify mechanically, or may he probably identify himself as a captain’s decide? We take a better take a look at what it may imply for the US’ Ryder Cup plans…

How does Ryder Cup qualification work?

Qualification for Group USA’s Ryder Cup facet started at the beginning of 2024, with one level per $1,000 earned for all these making the reduce at The Gamers and every of the 4 majors that season.

The identical variety of factors are on supply for every common PGA Tour occasion throughout 2025, beginning at The Sentry in January and the qualification marketing campaign working via till the BMW Championship in August.

There may be further weighting given for this 12 months’s majors, with 1.5 factors per $1,000 earned for all gamers making the reduce at The Masters, the PGA Championship, US Open and The Open.

The highest six gamers within the Ryder Cup factors record on the finish of the qualification marketing campaign in mid-August will make the group, with six captain’s picks then introduced after the Tour Championship the next week.

How did Bradley develop into a Ryder Cup contender?

Bradley impressed final season, claiming runner-up finishes on the Sony Open in Hawaii and the Charles Schwab Problem earlier than successful the BMW Championship – the second of the FedExCup Playoffs.

He featured for Group USA within the Presidents Cup after the conclusion of the season, serving to them to victory over the Worldwide Group, then made a robust begin to 2025 with 5 top-20 finishes in his first seven begins.

Bradley adopted a tied-eighth end on the PGA Championship with one other robust exhibiting on the Memorial Event, earlier than a dramatic end to the Vacationers Championship noticed him come again from three behind with 4 holes to play to grab a one-shot victory.

What has Bradley beforehand stated about enjoying?

Bradley was contained in the world’s high 20 when he was appointed, making him securing a Ryder Cup place as a participant all the time a chance, though he beforehand insisted it will solely be a consideration ought to he qualify mechanically.

“It should be actually arduous for me to make that group, but when I make the group, I will play,” he stated after final summer season’s BMW Championship win. “I do not see myself being a captain’s decide. However I will be proud to simply be the captain.”

He reiterated his stance forward of the PGA Championship, regardless of a robust begin to the 12 months, the place he added: “I do not even take into consideration me as a participant at this level. If I get to the tip of the 12 months and I am in that dialog, I will change that. I am not considering of myself as a participant on the group for the time being.”

How did his Vacationers Championship win change issues?

Bradley overturned a three-shot deficit in a outstanding ultimate spherical on the Vacationers Championship, the place a final-hole birdie – mixed with a closing bogey from Tommy Fleetwood – noticed him snatch a one-shot victory.

The win on the PGA Tour Signature Occasion earned Bradley 3,600 Ryder Cup group factors and moved him up eight locations to ninth within the rankings, leaving him simply over 2,150 factors behind Justin Thomas within the sixth computerized qualification spot.

Bradley’s success additionally lifted him to world No 7 – the very best world rating of his profession – and inside the highest 10 of the FedExCup standings heading into the ultimate two months of the PGA Tour season.

What has Bradley stated since?

Bradley mirrored on the potential of being a enjoying captain with the media following his win, admitting that his eighth PGA Tour victory – and fourth in as a few years – “opens the door to play” and make a 3rd Ryder Cup look.

“My complete life yearly I used to be out right here I wished to play on the Ryder Cup group, after which this could be the primary 12 months the place perhaps I did not need to,” he stated.

“I simply wished to be the captain and, in fact, , that is what occurs. However we’ll see. I will do no matter I believe is finest for the group.”

Can he nonetheless qualify mechanically?

Bradley options on the Rocket Basic and can have alternatives to earn additional factors at The Open and within the FedExCup Playoffs, together with another PGA Tour occasions he chooses to tee it up in earlier than the tip of the qualification interval.

Even when Bradley fails to interrupt into the highest six within the Ryder Cup rankings to qualify mechanically, he’s nearly sure to stay as one of many 12 highest-ranked American gamers on the planet rankings earlier than he pronounces his captain’s picks after the Tour Championship.

How widespread is it for a captain to play within the Ryder Cup?

If Bradley certified to function within the Ryder Cup as a participant, or chosen himself as a captain’s decide, he could be the primary to carry the player-captain position since Palmer did each for Group USA’s 23-9 win over Nice Britain and Eire in 1963.

Wales’ Dai Rees was a player-captain for Nice Britain and Eire on a number of events, most just lately in 1961, whereas Walter Hagen held each roles for the US throughout 5 of the primary six editions of the biennial contest.

There has not been a playing-captain within the Ryder Cup since, though Tiger Woods held a twin position for Group USA throughout their 2019 Presidents Cup victory over the Worldwide Group in Melbourne.

Can he juggle enjoying and captaincy?

Bradley revealed the potential of being a enjoying captain was first mentioned when the PGA of America referred to as him final June to supply the 2025 Ryder Cup position, with the twin position being mentioned within the background all through the build-up to this 12 months’s occasion.

“They [PGA of America] knew that that was a chance and that we’d have issues in place for that [playing captain],” Bradley admitted on Sunday. “If Tiger [Woods] or Phil [Mickelson] or these guys bought a captaincy at my age, they’d have finished it the identical method.”

Former PGA Tour caddie John Wooden was named group supervisor for Group USA earlier than the captaincy was named, a job designed to tackle a few of the administrative duties, whereas Webb Simpson, Brandt Snedeker, Kevin Kisner and Jim Furyk have been named as vice-captains.

“Each vice-captain that I’m selecting will know that this [extra roles] is a chance,” Bradley stated within the ‘Yr to Go celebration’ final October. “They’ll know what is going on on in that method. I believe my vice-captains are all going to be greater than able to doing this.”

Bradley’s Ryder Cup position is but to be formally finalised, though taking up each enjoying and captaincy seems to be more and more doubtless. Both end result will cut up opinion and put extra stress on him – from a boisterous New York crowd – to ship a house victory.

When is the Ryder Cup dwell on Sky Sports activities?

Sky Sports activities will proceed to be the house of the Ryder Cup, with all three days of the 2025 version completely dwell from September 26-28. Stream the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour and extra with no contract.