US Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley has dominated the press conferences at the BMW Championship this week.
Rickie Fowler and Patrick Cantlay were both asked about Bradley during their pressers, with the upcoming Ryder Cup a keen topic of conversation.
Bradley admitted that all the Ryder Cup hopefuls are feeling the pressure right now, himself included.
Cantlay will be hoping he has a decent chance of making the team at Bethpage.
And when asked about the upcoming Ryder Cup, Cantlay insisted that Bradley should be on the team.
It was a sentiment echoed by Fowler, who needs a win and a top-5 at the very least in the next two tournaments to qualify for the Ryder Cup team.
Keegan Bradley amazed by what Patrick Cantlay and Rickie Fowler have said
Bradley is a really popular figure on tour right now, and he has formed closer bonds with his fellow players than ever before.
He is interacting with the younger group of players on the PGA Tour, and he is clearly a highly-respected player amongst his peers.
The 39-year-old was asked what he thought of Cantlay and Fowler both saying he should be on the team at Bethpage.
Bradley said: “I can tell you, honestly, it means the world to me to hear that. I haven’t ever really felt that in my career. It’s really touching. It really means a lot. I really have — the thing I’ve enjoyed most is getting to know these guys better. I was really a closed off player for most of my career.
“Getting to know the guys more and getting to learn who they are, and then I think as a golfer, or as an athlete or a businessman, whatever it is, when you feel the respect of your peers, that’s the ultimate. To hear that from two players of that caliber really means a lot.“
You could tell by watching Bradley’s press conference that he was genuinely moved from what Cantlay and Fowler had said about him.
Now it’s up to him to prove over the next two weeks that he is very much worthy of a spot on the team.
Keegan Bradley’s recent form is a concern ahead of the Ryder Cup
While Bradley has been magnificent for most of the year, his recent form is rather worrying.
Since he won the Travelers Championship back in June, the 39-year-old has played four PGA Tour events.
And his results in those tournaments make for concerning reading.
Bradley’s best finish was a tie for 30th at The Open Championship. Aside from that, he has a T-41, T-44 and a missed cut to his name.
If Bradley has two more poor finishes over the next couple of weeks, he may well find it hard to pick himself for the Ryder Cup team.
A hugely important two weeks lie ahead of the man from Vermont.
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