OWINGS MILLS, Md. — For 2025’s BMW Championship, Keegan Bradley is participating, currently ranked at the 14th position in the FedEx Cup standings. This effectively ensures his participation in the forthcoming Tour Championship, which marks the conclusion of the PGA Tour season. While the FedEx Cup Playoffs offer considerable financial incentives and recognition, the focus on securing a spot within the top 30 was somewhat overshadowed this week. This is due to an impending Ryder Cup decision that Bradley is required to address.
The leader representing the United States currently holds the 10th position on the Ryder Cup points leaderboard. He is tasked with determining whether to nominate himself as a playing captain or to give precedence to another golfer whose performance this season is comparatively less. Throughout the year, Bradley has successfully kept the two roles separate – that of a PGA Tour participant and that of a Ryder Cup leader. However, with the top six spots finalized on Sunday and the captain’s selections anticipated shortly thereafter, it is becoming increasingly challenging for him to disconnect from his leadership responsibilities during competition weeks.
“The upcoming weeks definitely introduce a greater set of responsibilities,” Bradley acknowledged. “The Ryder Cup felt quite distant until now, but now it’s immediately approaching. The situation is definitely intensifying. I still need to demonstrate my capabilities, just like everyone else around me on the list.”
For the preceding year, Bradley has managed to postpone the decision. Even on Wednesday, he maintained that no decision has been reached and he can sincerely say that he is uncertain about who his six captain’s selections will be. However, it is simpler to disregard the leadership aspect in June and July compared to August. While he takes pride in his sustained focus on both facets, he can no longer prevent Ryder Cup considerations from occupying a larger portion of his thoughts as the event nears.
“I’m thinking about it more frequently now. When I’m in bed, I contemplate the types of golf balls the players use, consider potential pairings, and the intensity has certainly grown,” Bradley shared. “I’m truly proud of my ability to focus and perform as a player this year. I was uncertain about how things would unfold. No one could predict the outcome. Many people believed I would have a poor year. However, that’s one of the things I’m most proud of; I’m proud of my victory in Hartford, but I’m also deeply satisfied with my ability to perform on the course despite everything else happening. There’s no reason why I can’t maintain that performance in the next couple of weeks. There’s a lot at stake, and I hope to continue.”
Rory McIlroy stated on Wednesday that he wouldn’t even consider the possibility of being a playing captain, citing the extensive responsibilities associated with the captaincy in today’s Ryder Cup, considering the scale it has attained. The next two weeks may serve as the ultimate practice period for Bradley, who needs to demonstrate his ability to perform even with the burden of these choices looming.
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The deadline for making his selection is rapidly approaching. It’s an uncomfortable situation for anyone, as Bradley has undoubtedly shown enough merit to be considered for a playing position, although his accomplishments haven’t been sufficient to secure an automatic entry. If he can deliver a strong performance at the BMW Championship and Tour Championship – despite all the pressure – he might alleviate some of the concerns surrounding Bethpage Black. If he struggles, his performance might make the decision easier for him.
Bradley insists that a decision is still pending but hinted that he won’t hesitate to select himself if he believes it’s the correct choice, even if others express reservations.
“[Rory] might have a point. We don’t know for sure. Nobody can say for certain,” Bradley commented. “Everyone started telling me at the beginning of the year that it’s impossible for a player to be the leader and have a successful year. Personally, I feel like this is one of the best years I’ve ever experienced. One of the peculiar aspects of my career is that I’ve consistently relied on the advice of others, reaching out to people and asking them, ‘How do you prepare for a major? What’s your approach to the last tee time? How do you handle the media? How do you manage corporate responsibilities?’ In this situation, there’s no one to call. So, nobody knows how this could potentially work.
“I definitely have a lot of worries, and so does everyone else, but I have an exceptional group of vice captains, including Jim Furyk, who has been involved in these teams and has been the leader on multiple occasions,” Bradley added. “To be frank, I’ve been depending on them more than any other leader ever has, regardless of whether I’m playing or not. We’re ready for this if it happens. I’m uncertain whether it will. I can honestly say right now that I don’t know what’s going to transpire. I need to assess myself like any other player striving to make the team. I’m currently 10th in points, which isn’t within the top 6.”
