Keegan Bradley Decides Not to Be a Player in the Ryder Cup
Keegan Bradley made the decision not to be a player on the United States Ryder Cup team, ruling out the possibility of becoming the first player-captain in 62 years.
Bradley selected Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Ben Griffin, Cameron Young, Patrick Cantlay, and Sam Burns as his six captain’s picks for next month’s Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, Farmingdale, New York.
Despite having strong arguments for being included in the team, Bradley revealed that he decided “a while ago that he wouldn’t play”, adding that he had finalized the United States list earlier this week. Had he played, he would have been the first player-captain of the Ryder Cup since Arnold Palmer in 1963 at East Lake.
“In the last 48 hours, we had the team ready. We weren’t improvising at all,” Bradley said during a press conference at PGA of America headquarters in Frisco, Texas. “This was a really difficult decision. I will say that there was a moment when I was going to play. All these guys stood out in a big way and earned a place on this team, and that’s something I’m really proud of, and something I really wanted.”
Keegan Bradley
Bradley, 39, finished 11th in the U.S. Ryder Cup standings this season and is the eighth-best American in the world rankings. He has won twice in the last 13 months against the best players; only Scottie Scheffler has more PGA Tour wins in that span.
Although he admitted he wanted to play, Bradley reiterated: “I am 100 percent sure this is the right decision” by leaving his name off the team.
Bradley was also 11th in Ryder Cup points in 2023, but U.S. captain Zach Johnson overlooked him to pick Burns, Rickie Fowler, and Thomas, who were lower in the rankings. The Europeans defeated the United States 16 1/2-11 1/2 at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, just outside of Rome.
Bradley commented that he grew up dreaming of playing in the Ryder Cup and fighting alongside these players, and that it broke his heart not to be able to play. “It really was because you work forever to get to these teams, but ultimately, I was chosen to do a job. I was chosen to be the captain of this team, and my ultimate goal to start all this was to be the best captain I could be, and that’s how I felt I could do it.”Scheffler, J.J. Spaun, Xander Schauffele, Russell Henley, Harris English, and Bryson DeChambeau have already qualified for the United States team by finishing in the top six in the United States standings this season.
Bradley said he wasn’t swayed by the recent comment from European star Rory McIlroy, who turned down the opportunity to be a player-captain in a future Ryder Cup because it’s too difficult.
“I just don’t care at all what they do or say,” Bradley said. “I care about our team. I’m not sure how I would know if it’s not possible. Nobody’s ever really done it.”
Griffin and Young are among the four American rookies on the Ryder Cup team, along with Spaun and Henley. Young grew up in New York and set the course record at Bethpage Black in a state amateur event. He secured his first PGA Tour victory at the Wyndham Championship on August 3rd and had top-12 finishes in each of his last four appearances.
“Obviously, playing for your country is very special,” Young said. “And for me, you know, the United States is my home, but New York is really my home. So going back there to a place that I love, I can’t wait to get out there.”
Griffin, 29, has been one of the most notable stories in professional golf this season. He quit the game in 2021 and was working as a mortgage loan officer in North Carolina. He returned to the Korn Ferry Tour the following year and worked his way onto the PGA Tour.
Griffin and Andrew Novak won the Zurich Classic of New Orleans team event in April, then Griffin finished first at the Charles Schwab Challenge on his own. He was runner-up at the Memorial, tied for eighth at the PGA Championship and tenth at the U.S. Open. He had three top-12 finishes in the FedEx Cup Playoffs, which allowed him to make the U.S. team.
“Going from a desk job to being back on the PGA Tour, it’s been an incredible journey,” Griffin said. “This year, it’s been a breakthrough year for me, and I’ve been working really hard and believing in myself. I’m really excited to be a part of this team and I appreciate the belief, not only from Keegan, but also from the rest of the captains and other players who also believe in me.”
Maverick McNealy (10th in points), Brian Harman (12th), Novak (13th), and Chris Gotterup (20th) were other golfers believed to be in the running for the captain’s selections.
The European captain, Luke Donald, will make his six picks on Monday.
