Suppose I were to suggest that one of the most proficient American golf competitors of this Ryder Cup timeframe was a borderline participant? Consider a player who clinched a FedEx Cup Playoffs competition in 2024 and a prominent event in 2025. A competitor who boasts two additional second-place results throughout this duration, along with a top-10 showing at the most recent PGA Championship. An individual who secured a spot inside the top 10 at the Tour Championship, a feat he has accomplished for the past three seasons.
From a statistical standpoint, this individual is currently at the pinnacle of his abilities, as refinements to his short-game have emerged to complement a career defined by exceptional ball-striking prowess. This player concluded within the top 12 of the Ryder Cup standings in both 2023 and 2025, narrowly missing the automatic qualifying threshold in the latter year.
Since the commencement of the 2022-23 season, only one American golfer has amassed a greater number of victories on the PGA Tour: Scottie Scheffler, the world’s top-ranked player, whose win tally surpasses that of any other competitor on the global stage during this period.
This individual commands the respect and support of his fellow countrymen, and his prior Ryder Cup participation saw him form part of one of the most captivating and dynamic pairings in recent memory. He injects a sense of unbridled emotion and an unmatched level of energy, coupled with a fervor for the event that is seldom equaled.
It consumes his thoughts. It is his ultimate ambition. When opportunities arise, he demonstrates a strong desire to seize them. Logically, he is ideally suited for the contest, the perfect choice to represent the United States as one of the twelve players adorned in the nation’s colors.
The lone dilemma? This individual is Keegan Bradley, the American captain. However, this may not present a challenge at all. Its impact varies depending on perspective.
“It’s going to be more challenging,” Bradley admitted when discussing his selection of six captain’s picks for the Ryder Cup. “I’ve navigated numerous situations this year. I was uncertain how I would manage [the season]. I’m pleased with how I approached it. This is an entirely different challenge. I’m uncertain. This will pose significant difficulties.
“Once I conclude this, I intend to consult with my vice captains. We have essentially suspended all considerations for the past few days. I believe they were attempting to grant me space. However, we will communicate with them and finalize our choices. I observed numerous American players performing exceptionally well today, which is gratifying.”
What may not have initially appeared as a genuine impending decision when the PGA of America selected Bradley to lead the American team at Bethpage Black — even if it was addressed during the press conference announcing his captaincy — has evolved into the defining choice, now just a month away from the biennial contest against Europe.
Will Bradley opt to include himself as a captain’s pick to represent the United States? If he proceeds in this direction, will the decision be met with respect or regarded as self-serving, particularly given Bradley’s perceived unjust exclusion by former captain Zach Johnson two years prior?
“I believe that regardless of the decision I reach here, I could have easily chosen the alternate route — irrespective,” Bradley commented. “My sole concern is that on Sunday of the Ryder Cup, we emerge victorious. Only then will I be certain that I made the correct choice. Until that moment, I remain uncertain. It will undoubtedly be a volatile situation. Whatever decision we make, we will have to accept its consequences. I hold the members of our team in high regard. They are all performing admirably. It is truly remarkable. It’s extraordinary.”
His accomplishments are undeniable. Objectively, Bradley has consistently ranked among the top 12 American players for an extended period, not just this year. He ascended to the top five in the conversation following his triumph at the Travelers Championship, which propelled him into the top 10 of the Official World Golf Rankings, achieving a new career peak at No. 8.
Rankings have fluctuated since he hoisted his second Travelers Championship trophy in the last three years, the week following the U.S. Open. Several other players have emerged, notably Cameron Young, who surged from outside the discussion to a prominent position, fueled by consistent play and his inaugural victory at the Wyndham Championship.
Patrick Cantlay competed at the Tour Championship and narrowly missed securing his second FedEx Cup title in the past five seasons. Ben Griffin solidified his candidacy through sustained high-quality play in the United States, while others such as Maverick McNealy, Chris Gotterup, and Sam Burns presented compelling cases at various junctures.
However, consider these potential selections in comparison to the individual who will be making the final determination.
Collin Morikawa has not secured a victory in nearly three years. Cantlay’s winless drought extends even further. Justin Thomas ended his dry spell this past April at the RBC Heritage but had endured a similar period without a win and concluded the season with a relative decline. Burns’ most recent stroke-play victory occurred in 2022. McNealy and Young each have a single win during this period — the only victories in their respective PGA Tour careers. Griffin’s last top-10 finish was at the U.S. Open.
Bradley’s cumulative achievements are more extensive, robust, and well-suited for the Ryder Cup’s demanding nature, a high-pressure setting where players will be intensely focused on every shot. He performed equally as well as — if not surpassing — the individuals he will be evaluating, and he accomplished this all under heightened scrutiny. Under the intense gaze of observers, Bradley continued to perform as one of the sport’s elite players.
While others were afforded periods of reduced performance as attention shifted elsewhere, Bradley remained at the forefront throughout the entire PGA Tour season. At each tournament, he faced inquiries regarding his performance and his upcoming captain’s picks. At the majority of tournaments, he validated his position, which explains the frequency of those questions.
“Once we step inside the ropes, this is our intended purpose,” Bradley stated. “When you can filter out the external distractions while inside the ropes, that’s when you perform optimally. I executed that effectively throughout the year. I struggled with it in recent weeks. I performed better this week. I’m genuinely proud of that.
“I navigated a situation this year that is unprecedented for anyone else. I’m proud of how we addressed it. However, I’m relieved that it has concluded.”
Regrettably for Bradley — at least concerning his decision on whether to participate in the Ryder Cup — this outcome will not be determined solely on paper. Additional variables must be taken into account, such as his capacity to perform adequately in his role as captain — considering the myriad responsibilities, particularly in media interactions and lineup selection — while simultaneously preparing to compete as a player.
However, when assessed solely on his accomplishments, Bradley has consistently demonstrated his worthiness to represent the United States as a player-captain based purely on merit, and this case is exceedingly difficult to dismiss — even for the individual facing the most intense scrutiny.
