Time is starting to run out for Keegan Bradley to make his decision over the six players he will pick to complete his Ryder Cup team for Bethpage.
Of course, there is plenty of golf to be played before Keegan Bradley confirms his lineup for the Ryder Cup. The FedEx Cup playoffs are likely to throw up plenty of interesting twists which impact how the US and European sides look in New York in September.
But the Wyndham Championship marked the end of the regular PGA Tour season. And with that, it seems that the two teams are starting to take shape.
Scottie Scheffler has automatically qualified. Meanwhile, Bradley confirmed Bryson DeChambeau will be on his team. It is also hard to see how the likes of Xander Schauffele, J.J. Spaun, Russell Henley and Harris English are not involved. Justin Thomas will almost certainly receive a pick if needed as he sits seventh in the standings.
American who has missed three major cuts this year has been backed to make the Ryder Cup team
But that is where things start to get interesting. Bradley’s own win at Travelers Championship seemed significant. Meanwhile, Ben Griffin has won twice this year.
The likes of Cameron Young and Chris Gotterup have staked their own claims with recent victories. So there is a very good chance that some big names will not be involved.
Patrick Cantlay, Sam Burns and Wyndham Clark are currently outside the top 12. But speaking on The Smylie Show, Smylie Kaufman insisted that one member of the trio has to be involved given his history in team competition.
“I personally think that Patrick Cantlay’s going to end up on this team. He’s 5-2-1 in the Ryder Cup. He’s got a partner in Xander Schauffele. His iron game is too big of a strength. He’s a plus distance guy. He’s been so clutch over the course of his career in the Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup, made big putts. I just don’t see how he doesn’t make this team,” he said.
“The stats are really solid for the most part, he just hasn’t broken through. Sure, it hasn’t been a banner season for him, but it hasn’t been a bad season by any means. I have more confidence, I have Patrick Cantlay above Collin Morikawa for me. If it came down to picking between those two right now, I’m taking Patrick over Morikawa because of his pairing with Xander Schauffele, he’s got a plus record in the Ryder Cup.
“Morikawa, on the other hand, sure, he was dominant back at Whistling Straits, he went 3-0-1 with Dustin Johnson with his partner, but Dustin Johnson is not going to be on this team. And the form that Morikawa has been in has been a little bit all over the place.”
Smylie Kaufman assesses Jordan Spieth’s chances of receiving a captain’s pick from Keegan Bradley
It has been a largely forgettable year for Cantlay. He somehow sits 23rd in the FedEx Cup despite only securing three top 10 finishes and missing the cut at three of the four majors.
Another player who has struggled to impress this year is Jordan Spieth. It has been a decent return from injury, but he finds himself 27th in the Ryder Cup standings.
Kaufman suggested that it is not out of the question for Spieth to still make the team in September. However, it is clear that he needs to do something special during the playoffs.
“I still feel like the stats will say that Jordan Spieth still has a chance to make this team. But he hasn’t done what Chris Gotterup, Cameron Young, Andrew Novak, maybe Ben Griffin, Sam Burns, he just hasn’t had that boom moment to where it just feels like he’s made his stamp to where he feels like he should be a part of this team. But right now, he just hasn’t had that boom moment if you will,” he added.
You would imagine that Bradley will pick a handful of players with recent Ryder Cup experience. However, if Spieth’s form does not pick up over the playoffs, it is going to be extremely difficult for the captain to justify picking the three-time major champion.
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