"Keegan Bradley Confirms His Decision: No Role as Playing-Captain at Ryder Cup at Bethpage, Citing Reasons"
Keegan Bradley Steps Down as Ryder Cup Player to Focus on Captaincy Role
In a surprising turn of events, Keegan Bradley announced his decision to focus solely on captaining Team USA during a press conference at PGA Frisco on Wednesday. The Ryder Cup captain, who won his 13th professional title at the Travelers Championship in June, will not be a part of the 12-man roster for the tournament at Bethpage Black next month.
Bradley's decision not to play in the Ryder Cup means he will not become the first Ryder Cup playing-captain since Arnold Palmer in 1963. The American golfer shared that his decision was driven by his desire to be the best captain he could be for Team USA.
"I've grown up wanting to play Ryder Cups and to fight alongside my teammates," Bradley said, "but ultimately, my main focus was being the best captain I could be for Team USA throughout the year."
Bradley admitted that he considered himself a part of the playing 12 at the time of the Travelers Championship. However, after much thought and discussion, he decided against it. The decision was a difficult one for Bradley, but he is happy with the six players selected for the team.
Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Ben Griffin, Patrick Cantlay, Cameron Young, and Sam Burns are among the players selected by Bradley for the Ryder Cup team. Steve Stricker took over the role of assistant captain for Team USA at the 2021 Ryder Cup after Bradley was not selected for the playing squad.
The Ryder Cup is a big deal, according to Bradley. "It's a prestigious event, and I want to ensure that Team USA wins," he said. Bradley found the attention given to the possibility of him playing in the Ryder Cup "really strange".
There were many debates about whether Keegan Bradley could or should combine playing with captaincy duties in the months leading up to the Ryder Cup. However, Bradley's primary concern is ensuring that Team USA wins the Ryder Cup. His decision not to play in the Ryder Cup was made prior to the team being set.
Bradley stated that he does not care whether he plays or does not play in the Ryder Cup, as long as Team USA wins on Sunday. The American golfer shared that his desire to be the best captain he could be for Team USA drove his decision to focus solely on the captaincy role.
In stepping down as a player, Bradley will be able to dedicate his full attention to ensuring that Team USA has the best possible strategy and team dynamics to win the Ryder Cup. Fans and golf enthusiasts alike will be eagerly awaiting the outcome of the tournament next month.
