by The US Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley could be the first captain for the Americans since 1963 because he gives up over six selection options to complete his squad for the event next month.
The 39-year-old American would be the first American captain of the two-year showdown against Europe since the late Arnold Palmer 62 years ago if he calls his own name on Wednesday.
Advertising
The six automatic qualification players for the American line-up include the first-class Scottie Scheffler, the two-time main winner Xander Schauffele and Bryson Dechambeau, the US Open winner JJ Spaun and the Ryder Cup rookie Russell Henley and Harris English.
Bradley is in the world rankings, eight on the list of Americans after talking to seventh place at the tour championship last week. He won his eighth PGA Tour title at the Travelers Championship in June.
His solid game this season believes that Bradley would be a perfect choice for the line -up, including US President Donald Trump, who wants to take part in Bethpage Black on September 26th on September 26th.
After a season in which he had made the plans to play, the time for a choice for Bradley came, which called it the most difficult decision in his life.
Advertising
“It was a wild year,” said Bradley. “It is difficult because I want to put the team in the best position to win the Ryder Cup. So there is a kind of unknown – Arnold Palmer did it in 1963, but it is now a completely different tournament.
“It’s just a difficult decision. All picks are hard. Captain is judged who you choose. Pretty strange to choose yourself.
“It is something I have thought about for a long time, and I just want to make sure we do the right thing.”
Bradley, who won his only big title at his main debut in 2011 at the 2011 PGA Championship in the Atlanta Athletic Club, had to take the skills and team chemistry into account among his competitors and then also take into account the options.
Advertising
“I think it makes it a bit more difficult,” he said. “It is a really strange thing to do the picks and then think about picking yourself. It is ridiculous. Sometimes it doesn’t seem to be a reality.
“But we will do the best to make the right decision and it will be controversial for certain people in both cases. I am prepared for this.
“I am confident what decision I make, it is to improve the team and we will see.
“Ultimately, I have to protect the team. I have to do the right thing about the team. Whatever is the best decision, we will do it.”
Advertising
Bradley, who played in Medinah in 2012 and 2014 in Glenagles in the defeat of the US teams, wishes he could call Palmer for some instructions.
“I wish he was alive and I could call him,” said Bradley. “If I had one thing, I wish I could call Arnold and talk to him because I think he had great advice for me.”
– ‘The proudest season’ –
Just putting in the situation has made a Bradley Chesishes this season.
“I would say for myself that this is the proudest season I’ve ever had,” he said. “I won my rookie season twice with a major. That is up there. But that was my favorite of everyone.”
Advertising
It doesn’t make the choice of his captain easier when it comes to itself.
“This is an entire ‘Nother Tier. I have no idea. It will be really difficult,” said Bradley.
“No matter what decision I make here, I could have easily go in the other direction, no matter what happens. The only thing that is important to me is on Sunday of the Ryder Cup that we win the Ryder Cup.
“Then I will know that I have made the right decision. Until then, I won’t know. It will be pretty wild. Whatever we meet, we have to live with it.”
JS/EA
