With the 2025 PGA Tour season coming to a close with Tommy Fleetwood winning the Tour Championship, everyone’s attention now turns to Bethpage Black, host venue for the Ryder Cup.
Wednesday morning, Team USA captain Keegan Bradley is expected to announce his six captain’s picks. For the first time since 1963, it is believed that Bradley is going to name himself as a playing captain, per The Telegraph.
The last playing captain in the Ryder Cup was Arnold Palmer 62 years ago.
Six spots have already been claimed through the Ryder Cup rankings. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, U.S. Open winner J.J. Spaun, Russell Henley, Harris English and Bryson DeChambeau qualified automatically.
That leaves six spots remaining for Bradley to choose from.
The New England native has always stated his desire to play in the Ryder Cup. Arguments were made he was unfairly left off the team last time around. But after his victory at the Travelers Championship this year, Bradley vaulted himself into the conversation.
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He officially finished 10th in the Ryder Cup standings. But just because a player is ranked seventh through 12th does not guarantee a spot.
In fact, rumors have surfaced that Sam Burns, who finished ranked 16th, already got the call from Bradley to join the team.
If both Bradley and Burns are captain’s picks, that leaves just four spots.
The players in consideration include Collin Morikawa, Justin Thomas, Ben Griffin, Brian Harman, Patrick Cantlay, Andrew Novak, Maverick McNealy and Cameron Young.
Morikawa and Thomas appear to be locks. They have loads of experience and have played well on the biggest of stages.
Harman won The Open in 2023 going away, but struggled that fall in Rome, as Team USA was embarrassed by the Europeans.
Griffin has played phenomenally well this season and would make a lot of sense. Meanwhile, Cantlay has come on strong of late and nearly took home the Tour Championship.
It is anyone’s guess who Keegan Bradley will select. But one thing is for certain, an unreal amount of pressure will be on him to deliver, not just making selections, but on the course itself.
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