Keegan Bradley told one member of his Ryder Cup team is on Scottie Scheffler’s level with his iron play

Add as preferred source on Google

While Scottie Scheffler is clearly the best player on the planet right now, there does appear to be a question mark over the other members of Keegan Bradley’s team who are really going to step up and deliver at the Ryder Cup.

World number three Xander Schauffele has not been at his best this year. Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau has not played a competitive round for several weeks.

The displays of Collin Morikawa and Justin Thomas at the Procore Championship were concerning, with the pair finishing well down the leaderboard in Napa.

• READ MORE: Paul Azinger reacts after getting the ‘inside scoop’ on Keegan Bradley’s Ryder Cup pairings, ‘I told him that’

But perhaps there is one member of the team with the skills to potentially steal the show at Bethpage.

The American Ryder Cup player who is on Scottie Scheffler’s level with his irons

Graeme McDowell knows what it takes to deliver in the Ryder Cup. The Northern Irishman clinched the decisive point at Celtic Manor in 2010 and won three points from three matches four years later.

And speaking on The Smylie Show, McDowell discussed who on Keegan Bradley‘s team may spring a surprise in New York.

“Looking at the American team, there’s so many guys that we know so much about. Obviously, Ben Griffin‘s a guy, I don’t know him super well. Russell Henley, to me, I’ve known him for a long time. He was always a decent player, but it’s amazing how he’s become a late bloomer if you like. How old’s Russell Henley? 35? 37? I feel like he’s a late bloomer, but turned into an unbelievably steady player, a great player, he’s always on the leaderboard at major championships. I look to him to maybe have a standout Ryder Cup next weekend,” he said.

He went on to pick out the player whose approach play is as good as the world number one’s.

“Obviously, J.J. as a fellow Srixon player, I’m just proud of the way he’s played. Clearly, his iron play is something pretty good, Scheffler level. Not many guys hitting their irons like Scheffler. His display at Portrush, I got to watch more golf at the weekend of The Open being on the mic and just watching the guy play golf, it’s an absolute exhibition,” he added.

How J.J. Spaun compares with Scottie Scheffler’s approach play in 2025

It has been a real breakout year for J.J. Spaun. He was agonisingly close to winning The Players Championship before losing a playoff with Rory McIlroy in March.

• READ MORE: J.J. Spaun praised for having exactly the same skill as prime Tiger Woods after his playoff defeat at the FedEx St. Jude Championship

It was tempting to assume that Spaun had blown his opportunity to move to that next level after the disappointment at Sawgrass. However, he went on to win the US Open in dramatic fashion at Oakmont.

The way Spaun bounced back from a rocky start to his final round would not have escaped the attention of Bradley. And he went on to put himself in another playoff at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, this time losing to Justin Rose.

Spaun is fifth on the PGA Tour for strokes gained approach this year. Interestingly, the four names ahead of him will all also be involved at the Ryder Cup next week.

It would be no surprise to see Spaun sent off in the foursomes on Friday morning. And if he does indeed prove to be something of a revelation in the opening stages, he is surely a contender to play at least four sessions.