KEEGAN BRADLEY HAS opted against becoming the first playing captain at a Ryder Cup since 1963, describing it as “an extremely difficult decision”.
With his captain’s picks on Wednesday, Bradley selected Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Ben Griffin, Cameron Young, Patrick Cantlay and Sam Burns for Team USA.
Those six players will join automatic qualifiers Scottie Scheffler, J.J. Spaun, Xander Schauffele, Russell Henley, Harris English and Bryson DeChambeau to form Team USA at Bethpage Black, New York.
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Since being named American captain just over a year ago, the 39-year-old Bradley has won the Travelers Championship and earned six top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour. His 11th-placed finish in America’s qualification list led to speculation that he could select himself to play at next month’s tournament.
However, 2012 and 2014 Ryder Cup competitor Bradley has chosen not to emulate Arnold Palmer who, 62 years ago, qualified automatically for the US team having already been named captain.
“It was an extremely difficult decision,” Bradley said at a press conference at PGA of America headquarters in Frisco, Texas.
“I would say there was a point this year where I was playing, a while ago, and these guys stepped up in a major way and played their way onto this team.
“It was an extremely difficult decision, but one that I’m really happy with and with these six players.
“And I’m glad it’s over,” Bradley added of the selection process.
The USA captain later explained that he only seriously considered playing at Bethpage after his stunning comeback success at the Travelers in June, but that the late-season form of his six wildcard selections persuaded him otherwise.
Bradley added that if he felt his playing would have given Team USA a better chance of defeating Europe in September, he would have selected himself, but that he was fully confident in the ability of his 12-man team to regain the trophy in New York.
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Keegan Bradley opts against playing at Ryder Cup as he names captain's picks for USA
KEEGAN BRADLEY HAS opted against becoming the first playing captain at a Ryder Cup since 1963, describing it as “an extremely difficult decision”.
With his captain’s picks on Wednesday, Bradley selected Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Ben Griffin, Cameron Young, Patrick Cantlay and Sam Burns for Team USA.
Those six players will join automatic qualifiers Scottie Scheffler, J.J. Spaun, Xander Schauffele, Russell Henley, Harris English and Bryson DeChambeau to form Team USA at Bethpage Black, New York.
Since being named American captain just over a year ago, the 39-year-old Bradley has won the Travelers Championship and earned six top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour. His 11th-placed finish in America’s qualification list led to speculation that he could select himself to play at next month’s tournament.
However, 2012 and 2014 Ryder Cup competitor Bradley has chosen not to emulate Arnold Palmer who, 62 years ago, qualified automatically for the US team having already been named captain.
“It was an extremely difficult decision,” Bradley said at a press conference at PGA of America headquarters in Frisco, Texas.
“I would say there was a point this year where I was playing, a while ago, and these guys stepped up in a major way and played their way onto this team.
“It was an extremely difficult decision, but one that I’m really happy with and with these six players.
“And I’m glad it’s over,” Bradley added of the selection process.
The USA captain later explained that he only seriously considered playing at Bethpage after his stunning comeback success at the Travelers in June, but that the late-season form of his six wildcard selections persuaded him otherwise.
Bradley added that if he felt his playing would have given Team USA a better chance of defeating Europe in September, he would have selected himself, but that he was fully confident in the ability of his 12-man team to regain the trophy in New York.
Team USA captain’s picks
Team USA automatic qualifiers
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