Ryder Cup player-coach Keegan Bradley's impressive resume calls for recognition, but is the intense scrutiny pushing him towards a decision?
In the world of professional golf, the anticipation for the Ryder Cup is building, and one name that stands out among the potential contenders is American captain Keegan Bradley.
Bradley, who reached a new career high at No. 8 in the Official World Golf Rankings following his win at the Travelers Championship, has been a consistent force on the PGA Tour. Since the start of the 2022-23 season, only one American has more wins on the PGA Tour than Bradley: Scottie Scheffler, the No. 1 player in the world.
The decision of whether Bradley will choose himself as a captain's pick to represent the United States in the Ryder Cup is a significant one, as it was discussed in the press conference that announced his captaincy. Bradley, who has stated that choosing his six captain's picks for the Ryder Cup will be difficult, has made it clear that he will be looking for players who can perform under pressure and contribute to the team's success.
One golfer who has emerged as a potential Ryder Cup selection due to solid play and a maiden victory at the Wyndham Championship is Cameron Young. Young, along with Ben Griffin, both have one win during the timeframe in question, which are the only victories in their PGA Tour playing careers. Griffin's last top-10 finish came at the U.S. Open, while Young finished inside the top 12 of the Ryder Cup standings in 2023 and again in 2025, though just outside of the automatic qualifying zone.
Another golfer who has been making waves is Collin Morikawa, who has not won in nearly three years. However, Morikawa's fellow countrymen have rallied around him, and when he previously played in the Ryder Cup, he was part of one of the most electric playing duos in recent memory.
Justin Thomas ended the season with a relative thud and his last win was at the RBC Heritage in April. Patrick Cantlay nearly won the FedEx Cup and contended at the Tour Championship. Bradley performed well under immense scrutiny throughout the PGA Tour season and remained at the center stage.
Bradley's win at the Travelers Championship was not his only notable performance this season. The golfer in question has finished inside the top 10 at the Tour Championship across the last three seasons. Additionally, this golfer has a FedEx Cup Playoffs event win in 2024 and a signature event win in 2025, with two other runner-up finishes during this span and a top-10 result at the most recent PGA Championship.
From a statistical point of view, this golfer is at the height of his powers as his short-game improvements have finally arrived to compliment a career of world-class ball striking. As the Ryder Cup approaches, the eyes of the golfing world will be on Keegan Bradley and his decisions for the captain's picks.
In summary, Keegan Bradley, who has been performing consistently well on the PGA Tour, is a strong contender for the Ryder Cup captain's pick. Other potential contenders include Cameron Young, Ben Griffin, Collin Morikawa, Justin Thomas, and Patrick Cantlay. The golfer's short-game improvements have put him at the height of his powers, making him a formidable force for the Ryder Cup.
