Keegan Bradley is unquestionably one of the best 12 American golfers right now, and the Ryder Cup captain has been all season long.
There is a reason why Bradley is at the Tour Championship this week. Finishing inside the top 30 of the FedEx Cup points list is no mean feat, especially during a Ryder Cup year when every American and European player is even more motivated than they usually would be.
Bradley’s most important Ryder Cup decision will be whether to pick himself, and that call is becoming harder and harder with every week that passes.
The 39-year-old won the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands back in June.
However, Ryder Cup captain Bradley’s form has been poor over the past two months, with T-41, T-30, T-44 and T-17 finishes to his name, as well as a missed cut.
So the decision he makes regarding whether or not to pick himself for the US team may well end up defining his captaincy.
Now Stewart Cink has chimed in with some strong advice for Bradley.
Stewart Cink tells Keegan Bradley what he should do ahead of the Ryder Cup
Cink was one of Zach Johnson’s vice-captains at the Ryder Cup in Rome back in 2023.
So the 2009 Open champion had a first-hand view of just how difficult it is to perform the role of captain during Ryder Cup week.
He spoke to SIRIUSXM PGA TOUR Radio about what Bradley should do at Bethpage.
And Cink offered some really strong advice for the 39-year-old from Vermont.
He said: “I think Keegan is one of the top 12 Americans myself, and I think he should be on the team. I also think he’d be best served and the team would be best if he let someone else take over the captain’s duties for the week. Just my opinion, it would be hard to do both.
“It’s just hard to expect, it’s just a lot. I was assistant captain for one Ryder Cup, and I saw Zack what he went through in Italy, it’s just a lot on your plate, it’s a lot. Never mind playing in the tournament, that’s a lot too.
“It’s too much for one person to expect to do both. Keegan has some capable assistants, he is a capable player, I’m sure he would be welcome and a deserving member of the team if he decides to play.
“I hope he does, it would be a great story. It would be fun to watch him get down there, lace them up and play.”
The only other person who has been so adamant that Bradley should not perform both roles at the Ryder is Rich Beem.
Whether the Ryder Cup captain takes on board the advice from Cink and Beem remains to be seen, though.
Are European players interested whether or not Keegan Bradley plays at the Ryder Cup?
The overwhelming majority of American players have made it very clear that they want Bradley to play at Bethpage, while many have suggested that he could easily perform the role of captain at the same time.
However, what are the European players thinking about the situation?
Tommy Fleetwood sent a message to Keegan Bradley ahead of the Ryder Cup, when speaking to reporters ahead of the Tour Championship this week.
He responded when asked if he and his teammates are interested in whether Bradley plays at Bethpage in September.
The Englishman said: “Probably not as interested as you are, no. Like I’m not not interested. Obviously it’s the Ryder Cup coming up, and I think it’s a big story. But you know, he’s obviously got a lot on his hands right now. He’s got big decisions to make.
“I think whatever Keegan and the U.S. Team decide to do is not something that is at all in our control or something that we’ll sort of be thinking too much about. I think focus on our team, look forward to the opportunity to play whoever the 12 players are on that team.
“It’s nothing to do with us. It’s nothing to do with Europe. As a competitor and as a sort of peer, I wish him all the best in whatever decisions he does make. I think it’s going to be an amazing time for him either way, and whatever happens, I hope he — I just wish him the best and look forward to playing against him.“
Team Europe seem to be far more settled than the Americans right now, but it remains to be seen whether that shows on the course at the Ryder Cup next month.
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