Keegan Bradley opens up on pressure as Ryder Cup decision looms
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He’s about to face the biggest decision of his career and has had input from all corners. But Keegan Bradley is remaining calm in the face of his Ryder Cup dilemma…
Keegan Bradley has responded to Rory McIlroy after the Northern Irishman questioned whether he would be able to excel as a Ryder Cup playing captain.
McIlroy’s comments weren’t aimed specifically at Bradley, more he just thinks the Ryder Cup has become such a behemoth of an event that anyone would struggle juggling the two roles. But it has only become a talking point due to Bradley’s current predicament.
“I don’t think you can do it,” McIlroy said on the eve of the BMW Championship, before elaborating.
Bradley currently sits 10th in the American points list after enjoying a stellar season, but only the top six automatically earning a spot on the team.
And responding to McIlroy, the Team USA skipper said: “He might be right. We don’t know. No one knows.
“Everybody was telling me to start the year that a player can’t be captain and have a good year. For me, I feel like this is one of my best years that I’ve ever had.
“One of the strangest things, what I’ve done throughout my entire career is really lean on other people for advice and calling people and asking them: ‘How do you prepare for a major? What do you do with the last tee time? How do you deal with the media? How do you deal with corporate obligations?’ In this instance, there’s no one to call. So nobody knows how this could work.”
European captain Luke Donald agreed to a change in the “captains’ agreement” to allow vice-captains to give on-course advice, a move that would seemingly pave the way for Bradley to do what so few before him have done.
The 39-year-old is confident he and his backroom team are “ready” to embrace the challenge but insists no decision has yet been made.
He added: “I certainly have a lot of concerns, as well as everybody else, but I have the most incredible vice-captains, including Jim Furyk, who’s been on these teams and been captain a bunch of times. Quite frankly, I’ve been leaning on them more than any other captain ever anyway, even if I’m not playing.
“We’re ready for this if it happens. I’m not sure it’s going to. I can truly sit here right now and say I don’t know what’s going to happen. I have to look at myself just like any other player trying to make the team. I’m 10th in points right now, and that’s not sixth.”
The top six in the American standings after this week’s FedEx Cup Playoffs event will be confirmed on the team, although Scottie Scheffler, JJ Spaun and Xander Schauffele have already done enough to qualify.
Bradley will name his six captain’s picks on August 27.
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Keegan Bradley does not have long left to decide if he will play on the Ryder Cup or remain as captain.
