Keegan Bradley is well-placed to secure his first PGA Tour win since the golfing world was left stunned by the news that he will captain the US Ryder Cup team at Bethpage Black next year.
Keegan Bradley is the leader with one round to play at the BMW Championship, with the 38-year-old posting a two under par round of 70 to take a one shot lead over Adam Scott into Sunday at Castle Pines.
It has been more than a year since Bradley won on the PGA Tour, but of course, his name has been right in the headlines over the last couple of months, with the 2011 PGA champion being named as the US Ryder Cup captain for 2025.
It was a decision few saw coming. Rory McIlroy admitted the Europeans were surprised to see Bradley named as captain. Bradley was inside the world’s top 20 when the decision came, and he seemed to have a genuine chance of making the Presidents Cup team this year.
Keegan Bradley shares what he wasn’t expecting at BMW Championship
He has now reminded everyone of his quality as a player over the last couple of years – and it seems that Colorado has reminded everyone of how impressive a host it can be. Castle Pines had gone 18 years without holding a PGA Tour event, while the Centennial State has not been a stop on the tour for a decade.
And speaking after his third round, Bradley explained how he had been completely caught off-guard by the crowds this week.
“I honestly wasn’t expecting this. But I love when we come and play in markets that we don’t come to, and you can just tell the fans are really excited,” he said.
“For now, I feel like I need to carry the torch for the United States Ryder Cup team, and I hope I’m doing that.”
What is perhaps forgotten about Ryder Cup captain’s role
What perhaps gets overlooked about Bradley’s role is how hard he needs to work straight away. One of the biggest advantages America will have in New York next year is the passion of the crowd, which is going to do all it can to inspire the team to victory.
Of course, they are going to be behind their team whatever happens, but Bradley can help himself by getting involved with and embracing the galleries in the events he does play.
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Some will have had some real concerns about making Bradley the captain given his lack of experience – it is a decade since his most recent Ryder Cup appearance – but he does know how to create a buzz amongst the crowds.
And he definitely appears to be feeding on the atmosphere this week.
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