Keegan Bradley has revealed he will not be a playing captain at this year’s Ryder Cup, defying Donald Trump’s public recommendation that he should select himself.
Bradley confessed last week that he was contemplating the ‘toughest decision’ of his career, mulling over whether to pick himself as one of his captain’s selections for Team USA.
Stars like Bryson DeChambeau and Scottie Scheffler secured automatic qualification, and Bradley unveiled his six wildcard choices during Wednesday’s press conference.
Many anticipated he would name himself and become the first playing captain since 1963. Trump even intervened over the weekend, declaring he would attend at Bethpage and stating: “Keegan Bradley should DEFINITELY be on the American Ryder Cup Team – As Captain!”
However, Bradley chose not to include himself, instead selecting Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Ben Griffin, Cameron Young, Patrick Cantlay and Sam Burns.
The US captain acknowledged he had considered his own inclusion, explaining during his press conference: “This was a really tough decision. There was a point this year where I was playing.
“I grew up wanting to play Ryder Cups and wanting to fight alongside these guys. It broke my heart not to play, it really did.
“I was chosen to do a job and be a captain for this team and my ultimate goal was to be the best captain I could be. This is how I felt I could do this.
“If it got to the point where it felt the team was better with me on it I was going to do that. I know 100% for certain this was the right choice. These six guys played so incredibly coming down the stretch here and made my job so much easier.”
DON’T MISS
Scheffler and DeChambeau were accompanied by JJ Spaun, Xander Schauffele, Russell Henley and Harry English, with Team USA’s complete roster now set in stone.
All attention will turn to the European reveal from skipper Luke Donald, when he announces his six selections on Monday September 1. Rory McIlroy will once more lead the European assault, alongside Tommy Fleetwood following his breakthrough PGA Tour triumph last weekend.
They will be accompanied by Justin Rose, Robert MacIntyre, Rasmus Hojgaard and Tyrrell Hatton for the clash in New York, which will commence on Friday September 26.
