Keegan Bradley ‘couldn’t imagine’ doing what some top American players did after The Open in 2024

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Keegan Bradley will be keeping a very close eye on how the top American golfers perform over the next couple of months, ahead of the Ryder Cup in September.

It’s looking more and more likely that Bradley will act as a playing captain for the U.S. Ryder Cup team at Bethpage Black.

The last time that happened was way back in 1963 when Arnold Palmer performed both roles.

J.J. Spaun has suggested that Bradley should pick himself for his own Ryder Cup team, if he doesn’t qualify automatically.

The general consensus is that the 39-year-old is easily one of the best American players in the world right now, so why wouldn’t he play?

However, on the flip-side to that, Xander Schauffele suggested that performing both roles at the Ryder Cup may be difficult for Bradley.

The main thing for the man from Vermont is that he has a really strong group of players who he can trust.

And if he does play as well as captain the team, he can be safe in the knowledge that the players at his disposal are good enough to go out and get the job done.

Keegan Bradley shocked by what some American players did after The Open in 2024

Bradley is building a really close-knit unit ahead of the Ryder Cup at Bethpage later this year.

All of the American players are seemingly buying into his siege mentality.

However, it is very clear to see that the top American players of this generation are naturally a lot closer together than the group of players who preceded them.

Bradley was speaking on the Fore Play Podcast Plus, and he shared something that certain American golfers did after The Open at Royal Troon that generally stunned him.

He said: “The approach is way different. These guys are way softer to one another. They are legitimate friends. Our team-room was amazing but, these guys are like, ‘let’s get the families together, let’s go to the Bahamas’. These guys went on a golf trip after The British Open last year, a bunch of them. I couldn’t imagine. I’m looking to get home, these guys are going to Ireland, hanging together.“

Europe historically had the edge when it came to team spirit and camaraderie amongst the players.

However, that may well be shifting towards the Americans now. The majority of the top European players ply their trade in America, so they are not all travelling together like they used to do on the DP World Tour.

American Ryder Cup standings heading into the Scottish and British Opens

Bradley’s team is shaping up very nicely right now.

The top six in the standings will qualify automatically for a place in the team at Bethpage.

While the next six in the standings will all be in with real shouts of a captain’s pick.

There are some huge events between now and the Ryder Cup, and there will undoubtedly be some real movement in the standings from fifth place down really.

It would surprise nobody if Bradley qualified automatically for his own Ryder Cup team. However, if he fails to do so, nobody should be shocked if he picks himself either.