Keegan Bradley’s selection as Ryder Cup captain for Team USA very much caught many people off guard but he is just five months away now from leading the team at Bethpage Black.
Bradley is still one of the players who could make the team, meaning he’d be competing as a playing captain.
Outside of that, though, there are a number of responsibilities. From managing the schedule, creating relationships with players and caddies, and then picking the final 12, Bradley knows he’s got to get things spot on.
Bradley has admitted to rejecting some ideas already as captain and speaking on the matter of player behaviour, Bradley has also suggested there’s been a change from some on TOUR.
Keegan Bradley shares if players are different with him now he’s Ryder Cup captain
As with any sport, there comes a respect with being a coach or captain and there’ll be players gunning for a spot on Team USA who might be thinking back nervously about any previous history with Bradley.
Indeed, speaking on the Sub Par podcast this week, Bradley actually revealed that people he’d not spoken to for years had been different towards him.
“There is certainly some. I had one player come and give me a hug who I have not talked to in 15 years on the tour when it first happened,” Bradley admitted.
“But for me personally I have sort of been in my own bubble, my 15 years on tour, and this has forced me out of that bubble and I have gotten to know players, like Akshay [who was sitting alongside him on the podcast] and other players who are potentially going to be on the team and it’s something I have enjoyed.”
Going back to Bhatia, Bradley then spoke about playing alongside the youngster at the RBC Heritage and looked to take the pressure off.
“You don’t have to worry about me,” Bradley laughed. “You go do your thing, Akshay was one of the rising stars of the tour, one that I loved to watch play. He hits a slot of amazing shots and he doesn’t need to audition for me. He is a great player and I want him to go out there and do his best.”
The current Ryder Cup standings for Team USA
Right now, Keegan Bradley will not be a playing captain and having gone on record to say he won’t us a captain’s pick on himself, it looks like we could have a very fresh 12 for Team USA.
As it stands, the top two seem pretty set in stone in Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele but beyond that, it could change.
Justin Thomas winning the RBC Heritage has put him into the top six, while Bryson DeChambeau will need good results in the majors to keep his points total ticking.
| Current Team USA Ryder Cup standings – top six |
| Scottie Scheffler |
| Xander Schauffele |
| Collin Morikawa |
| Bryson DeChambeau |
| Russell Henley |
| Justin Thomas |
Beyond the top six, the race is on and players like Bryan Harman, Patrick Cantlay and more are not too far off the top six.
Indeed, the runner up of the RBC, Andrew Novak, has propelled himself into 13th as well.
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