The Tour Championship Defines the FedEx Cup Champion
The PGA Tour is about to crown its FedEx Cup champion, an event that will be decided at the Tour Championship. The competition kicks off this Thursday at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, promising excitement and a high level of competition. World number one, Scottie Scheffler, will have no advantages in this edition. The tournament has modified its format, and the 30 participating golfers will start the traditional 72-hole tournament with a par score. This tournament has added importance, as the 45th edition of the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, New York, is approaching, just over a month away. There are already six golfers confirmed for the United States team: Scheffler, J.J. Spaun, Xander Schauffele, Bryson DeChambeau, Russell Henley, and Harris English. The U.S. team captain, Keegan Bradley, will announce his six selections on August 27, three days after the final round of the Tour Championship. The key question is whether Bradley will include himself in the team.In addition to the six golfers already qualified by points, Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, and Patrick Cantlay are also expected to be selected. Although JT has performed better than the other two this season, Morikawa’s game has been inconsistent, and Cantlay has also shown a lack of regularity, although his success in the Ryder Cup is undeniable. This would leave three spots available. Bradley, who should have been on the team that was defeated by Europe in Rome in 2023, is a fierce competitor and knows Bethpage Black well. His results haven’t been outstanding since he won the Travelers Championship, but he improved with a tie for 17th at the BMW Championship, securing him a spot in the Tour Championship. The fact that Bradley is making this decision has created a complicated scenario, as he himself had stated that he would not be on the team unless he qualified. Rory McIlroy has pointed out that being captain and player at the same time is an extremely difficult task, and if Bradley chooses himself, the pressure on him will be even greater. Regarding the possibility of a captain playing, McIlroy revealed that he turned down the opportunity to be a player-captain for the European team at the next Ryder Cup in Ireland in 2027. The Northern Irishman argued that he did not consider the option because he believed it was not viable. If Bradley and his teammate beat the European pair in the Friday morning session, there is no doubt that he would return to the field in the afternoon. Bradley has the confidence of vice-captains Jim Furyk, Gary Woodland, Kevin Kisner, Webb Simpson and Brandt Snedeker.I think Bradley will select himself, as he is one of the top 12 American golfers right now.
Mark Schlabach
Who Could Surprise and Join the Team?
As for the players who could surprise and be selected, three former University of Georgia golfers, English and Henley for the American side and Sepp Straka for the European side, will play at Bethpage Black. Brian Harman could also be considered, after winning the Valero Texas Open in April and finishing tenth at The Open at Royal Portrush. Sam Burns, who was in the 16th position in points, achieved a tie for fourth place in the BMW Championship, which gave him a boost. Burns won the last edition of the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play in 2023 and leads the tour in strokes gained: putting (.921), which cannot be overlooked in the Ryder Cup. In the US team, Maverick McNealy has made a strong case to be considered. Although he hasn’t won this year, he has been consistent, with 10 top-25 finishes, including seven top 10s and a second place. McNealy is among the top 25 in the world ranking and among the top 30 according to DataGolf. He is the 13th best American in strokes gained and finished third at the BMW this week, which puts him in 11th place in the Ryder Cup standings.
Who Will Be Keegan Bradley’s Choices?
Justin Thomas, Morikawa, and Cantlay are almost certain. Cameron Young, with his recent form, and Ben Griffin, McNealy, Chris Gotterup, Burns, and Harman are competing for the remaining spots. Experience could be key, and Bradley could choose Burns or Harman, depending on what happens this week at East Lake. The selections could be Justin Thomas, Ben Griffin, Collin Morikawa, Patrick Cantlay, Cam Young, and Chris Gotterup. The first four are obvious choices, while Young and Gotterup could be the riskiest picks.
