Rich Beem predicts if Jordan Spieth is going to be picked by Keegan Bradley for the Ryder Cup team

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One of the most contentious decisions Keegan Bradley is going to make when completing his side for the Ryder Cup is whether Jordan Spieth is going to get a spot on his team for Bethpage.

Most Ryder Cup captains have to make at least one decision which divides golf fans. Keegan Bradley‘s predecessor, of course, came in for a lot of heat, with Zach Johnson opting for Justin Thomas over Bradley ahead of 2023’s event.

Thomas was better than most at Marco Simone. And that perhaps highlights why Bradley has at least some reason to consider picking Jordan Spieth for New York in September.

Spieth’s year has not been an overly impressive one. He has registered just four top 10s on the PGA Tour, with just one of those coming in a signature event. The 32-year-old received invites to most of the elevated tournaments this season.

Rich Beem predicts whether Jordan Spieth will be on the Ryder Cup team

He failed to make the top 10 in a major, while he sits 48th in the FedEx Cup standings. Spieth does at least deserve a bit of leeway when it comes to being 27th in the Ryder Cup qualification standings having spent much of last year dealing with injury.

But with the likes of Cameron Young and Chris Gotterup winning in recent weeks, it is no surprise that Bradley has been warned about picking Spieth as things stand.

And speaking on the Sky Sports Golf Podcast, Rich Beem admitted that he cannot see Spieth being involved.

“I don’t think Jordan Spieth’s going to play sadly. I don’t think he’s got the game right now. He’s got a lot of things going on, a brand new baby, number three, so home life is probably a little bit more important to him. So I just don’t see him being a captain’s pick. I’d be totally surprised because I don’t think he’s anywhere in the top 20,” he said.

The last US Ryder Cup which did not include Jordan Spieth

Spieth’s experience in the Ryder Cup is also going to be a factor which works in his favour. He has been on every team since 2014, and formed impressive partnerships with Justin Thomas and Patrick Reed previously.

Bradley was one of the players involved the last time the US side did not include Spieth. Obviously, that would prove to be a particularly painful week for Bradley as Davis Love III’s men were beaten despite taking a 10-6 lead into Sunday at Medinah.

On the opposite team meanwhile, were the likes of Luke Donald, Justin Rose and Rory McIlroy. McIlroy was able to beat Bradley in the Sunday singles despite barely making his tee time.

And – although it will do nothing for Spieth’s cause this time around – for those who worry about omens, that week remains the last time an away side won the Ryder Cup.