J.J. Spaun says if he thinks Keegan Bradley should pick himself at the Ryder Cup if he doesn’t qualify automatically

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J.J. Spaun is almost a dead cert to be playing at the Ryder Cup for the U.S. team in September, and as things stand right now, Keegan Bradley seems to be as well.

Spaun‘s incredible win at the US Open in June put him in a really strong position to qualify automatically for the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black.

Meanwhile, Bradley earned a huge victory at the Travelers Championship the week after Spaun’s success at Oakmont.

And as a result, there’s a very real chance that the United States could have their first playing captain at the Ryder Cup since Arnold Palmer performed both roles in 1963.

Bradley has prepared for that eventuality at the Ryder Cup by drafting in five vice-captains to help him at Bethpage.

The general consensus right now is that Bradley will be playing at the Ryder Cup in September.

However, he’s still outside the automatic qualifying spots in the U.S. Ryder Cup points list.

And let’s not forget, Bradley has previously insisted that he would not pick himself (PGA Tour website).

J.J. Spaun says if he thinks Keegan Bradley should pick himself at the Ryder Cup

The bottom line here is that Bradley is unquestionably one of the best 12 American players in the world right now.

In fact, it could be argued that he has been the second most consistent performer over the past couple of months behind only Scottie Scheffler.

So does Spaun think Bradley would be deserving of a place in the Ryder Cup team even if he doesn’t qualify automatically?

The US Open champion was a guest on GOLF’s Subpar Podcast, and he responded when asked if he thinks Bradley should pick himself for the Ryder Cup, should he fail to qualify automatically.

Spaun said: “I think he deserves to be. I think it’s just going to boil down to what type of responsibility he is going to want to have. It’s already a lot! He says that he thinks about the Ryder Cup 24/7, let alone being a Dad and trying to play for himself on Tour.

“To be a captain too is a huge responsibility. Personally I think if he doesn’t qualify he should give himself the nod.

“He has got all the experience, he is playing great. It’s just going to boil down to how much of the captaincy responsibility he is going to want. But I think as a player he has earned it.“

Spaun is absolutely spot on there. Bradley needs to be on the team at Bethpage in a playing capacity, regardless of whether he retains his role as captain or not.

Does Keegan Bradley really deserve to play at the Ryder Cup?

Bradley absolutely has to be on the U.S. Ryder Cup team.

His results this season have been better than most.

Bradley would make things a lot easier on himself if he manages to qualify automatically for the team.

However, even if he doesn’t, there is no doubt that he should be playing at the Ryder Cup in September.