Keegan Bradley is in contention to win the US Open at Oakmont this week.
Ryder Cup captain Bradley has been in fine form this season, and he showed his class on day two at the US Open by making five birdies in his round of 70.
Oakmont is playing incredibly difficult right now, but the 38-year-old managed to navigate it without too many issues.
Bradley has been playing so well that he could even make his own Ryder Cup team later this year, and what a turn up for the books that would be.
A top-five finish at the US Open this week would be a huge stepping stone to his hopes of doing just that.
Oakmont is playing incredibly difficult, so two more rounds of 70 may well be enough to secure his place on the Ryder Cup team.
Is the golf course too difficult though, almost unfairly so?
Keegan Bradley disagrees with what USGA officials have said about the US Open
Bradley looked like he had been in a real battle on day two of the US Open.
He was physically and mentally jaded after posting his impressive round of 70.
That’s what Oakmont does to players!
However, the 38-year-old didn’t necessarily agree with the USGA’s comments regarding the players requiring more mental strength.
One reporter put it to Bradley that the USGA officials said that the idea of making players play 15 clubs, the 14 in their bag, and this is a quote, the one between their ears, do you think that’s happening here?
And Bradley responded, “I think that the USGA can say all they want, but we’re professional golfers. This is what we do for a living. I don’t agree with that. I think that we go out here every day and try to be professionals, and we know when it comes to a major, whether it’s a U.S. Open, British Open, Masters, PGA, that we have to be on top of our game mentally. The USGA is not doing that, we’re doing that.“
That’s a fair comment from Bradley. The best golfers in the world are always on top of their games mentally – they wouldn’t be where they are now if they weren’t.
What will Bradley do if he makes his own Ryder Cup team?
Could Bradley really serve as a playing captain at Bethpage Black later this year?
There is surely no way that can happen.
If he qualifies for the Ryder Cup, the Americans will unquestionably have to appoint a stand-in captain.
Bradley could then be handed the captaincy for another year.
In this day and age, there is too much importance attached to the role of a Ryder Cup captain for him to be out on the golf course playing.
He either makes the team and relinquishes his captaincy duties, or he misses out and keeps his role as skipper.
One thing’s for sure, if he does make the team, he won’t be forfeiting his chance to play at Bethpage in September.
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