Keegan Bradley confirmed on Tuesday that he will not play at the Ryder Cup, as he locked in the final six members of Team USA for next month’s clash with Europe.
The US captain named his captain’s picks on Tuesday, with Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Ben Griffin, Cameron Young, Patrick Cantlay and Sam Burns joining the already-qualified Scottie Scheffler, JJ Spaun, Xander Schauffele, Russell Henley, Harris English and Bryson DeChambeau.
Bradley himself has enjoyed an impressive season, winning the Travelers Championship in June just a month after a top 10 finish at the PGA Championship.
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Those results put him in the top 12 on the US points list for the Ryder Cup, fuelling speculation he could become the first playing captain since Arnold Palmer in 1963.
However, Bradley’s final selections on Tuesday confirmed that he will not break that 62-year run.
At his press conference to lock in Team USA for next month’s tournament in New York, Bradley responded to recent pointed comments from Rory McIlroy on the subject.
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Keegan Bradley responds to Rory McIlroy’s Ryder Cup dig
The concept of a playing captain at the Ryder Cup is an almost extinct one, with the demands on captains expanding dramatically since Arnold Palmer captained the USA to victory in Atlanta in 1963.
The potential for Keegan Bradley to take that role this year had fuelled debate about whether it was feasible in the modern day.
Rory McIlroy was asked to comment on the matter, and claimed that he had been offered a playing captain’s role at a future Ryder Cup – presumably 2027 when the event returns to Ireland at Adare Manor.
“I’ve been asked to do that and I’ve turned it down,” McIlroy said when asked whether he thought Bradley could fill the role of a playing captain.
“The idea of me being a playing captain sometime soon has come up, and I’ve shot it down straight away because I don’t think you can do it.
“If you’d have said it 20 years ago, I’d say it was probably possible to do. But how big of a spectacle it is and everything that’s on the line in a Ryder Cup now, I just think it would be a very difficult position to be in.”
Keegan Bradley seemingly agreed with the Grand Slam champion, ultimately deciding against picking himself for this year’s Ryder Cup.
“I’m not quite sure how he would know if it’s not possible.”
Keegan Bradley discusses Rory McIlroy’s comments that it’s not possible to be a playing-captain. 💬 pic.twitter.com/EFnc69xsTJ
— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) August 27, 2025
However, the American did not appear best pleased when McIlroy’s comments were raised at his team-naming press conference on Tuesday.
Bradley had a salty response, questioning why McIlroy felt the authority to make such remarks.
I just am not worried at all about what [Europe] do or say. I’m just concerned with our team.
I’m not quite sure how he would know if it’s not possible, no-one’s ever done it, really.
Sitting through this process, I wish I could call Arnold Palmer and get his advice. The simple fact is that the Ryder Cup is a really different animal than it was in the 60s so that would be difficult.
They can make comments on what I can and cannot do – no-one would have known. I was confident that, if I did need to play, I had incredible vice captains that I could lean on, incredible teammates that I could lean on.
As a pivotal player on five Ryder Cup-winning teams, few active players know more about the tournament than Rory McIlroy.
Though he may not have had the experience of captaining Team Europe yet, McIlroy will almost certainly fill the role in years to come, even if it is unlikely he will combine that with a playing role.
It’s early days yet, but the tension is building ahead of what is set to be a gripping Ryder Cup at Bethpage next month.
Luke Donald will confirm his final six selections for Team Europe next week, with Shane Lowry expected to join Rory McIlroy on the team.
The 2025 Ryder Cup gets underway on September 26 at Bethpage in New York.
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