Keegan Bradley has been in superb form at the Tour Championship, but it was something he said earlier in the week that now makes it clear what decision he should make about playing at the Ryder Cup.
Bradley opened up his week at the Tour Championship with a round of even-par 70 before shooting 64 and 63 on Friday and Saturday respectively.
The calls for Bradley to play at the Ryder Cup next month have been emphatic, with numerous fans, journalists and even his fellow players suggesting he is easily one of the best American players right now.
The 39-year-old’s form at East Lake this week has led to even more calls for him to pick himself for Bethpage Black.
Bradley didn’t practice as much as he usually would ahead of the Tour Championship due to the fact that he was so tired.
Playing on the PGA Tour whilst carrying out his Ryder Cup captaincy duties is obviously a tough thing to do.
The man from Vermont has undoubtedly found out over the past two months that combining those duties is incredibly difficult.
Keegan Bradley has shown himself the big Ryder Cup decision he needs to make
Bradley’s form over the past two days at East Lake has been sensational, especially taking into account everything that is going on around him right now.
Earlier in the week, Bradley admitted that he was struggling with his concentration at the Tour Championship when hitting his shots.
With so much going on in his mind about the decisions he has to make next week, he was finding it difficult to compartmentalise competing at the Tour Championship and focusing on his Ryder Cup duties.
However, he has proven to himself that he is more than good enough to handle both roles by shooting 13-under par over two rounds under the most extreme pressure.
Bradley playing on the US Ryder Cup team at Bethpage should be an absolute no-brainer.
His ability to perform in Atlanta with so many important tasks on his plate off the golf course proves that he will be able to do exactly the same thing during the upcoming Ryder Cup.
The rest of the American team are surely in Bradley’s ear demanding that he picks himself when he has to make his selections on Wednesday.
Who will Keegan Bradley’s six Ryder Cup picks be?
Justin Thomas is an absolute lock and while Collin Morikawa’s form has been awful recently, he will most likely be on his way to Bethpage as well.
In my opinion, Ben Griffin will be on the team, as will Patrick Cantlay and Cameron Young.
That leaves just one more pick, and Bradley simply has to select himself to play at the Ryder Cup.
If he doesn’t, the American team will be much weaker as a result.
And that is the main thing he needs to bear in mind. Bradley’s main priority should be ensuring that Team USA are in the strongest position possible to win back the Ryder Cup trophy.
Taking that into account, Bradley should play at Bethpage, and every single person involved with the US Ryder Cup team would tell you the same thing.
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