Keegan Bradley, human rain delay, is the first U.S. Ryder Cup captain to win the job. Harrington seems entirely confident in his forthcoming choices and is looking forward to declaring his half-dozen captain’s picks on Wednesday. When we spoke, he remained optimistic about the process. He said he had a “pretty good idea” of who will occupy the coveted last couple roster spots. Today’s announcement is especially poignant, as Bradley has balanced the leverage and burden of leadership with an ongoing reflection on the impact of his decisions.
Bradley plays it smart but strong at Tour Championship on Friday. He ended up with a better score than most of the best players, as his 6-under 134 landed him in a tie for 14th place. He just won the Travelers Championship a few weeks ago, and won another FedEx Cup playoff event last August in Denver. These small victories serve to further entrench him as one of the most dominant players on tour.
In preparation for the Ryder Cup, scheduled for next year, Bradley hosted a dinner for the six automatic qualifiers on the U.S. team. Though new U.S. Open champ Justin Thomas and Collin Morikawa are in, sitting at the Nos. 7 and 8 spots in the world rankings at present. Indeed, most commentators expect them to be among his first picks. Given the unusual opportunity this event offered, we saw it as a tremendous chance to engage with his team. More importantly, it acted as a critical convening space to address the challenges ahead.
As Bradley heads into this year’s high-stakes selection day, he’s quick to recognize the wild pressure that comes with the job. “No matter what decision I make, I’m going to be defined by this decision,” he remarked. His commitment to forming a competitive team is evident, as he emphasized, “I promise you we’re going to make the best decision for the team, and it’s going to be controversial either way.”
Bradley, for now, is all about the Ryder Cup. His captain’s picks won’t be based solely on how players do at the Tour Championship. He understands too that form, team chemistry and player dynamics are important factors which weigh heavily in his final decisions. Bradley as of this writing is ranked 13th in the world. Even ahead of that most recent victory, he has attracted remarkable support from the rest of the field.
The excitement around Bradley’s picks is one of the many reasons that golf enthusiasts are so eager to get started. His leadership will be the true test as he relies on his better judgement versus overwhelming expectations from fans and players, too. Reflecting on his capabilities, Bradley stated, “To be honest, I feel like I’m still one of the best players in the world.” That self-assuredness will likely help him as he goes through this crucial moment in his career.
Bradley’s flight to the PGA of America headquarters in Frisco, Texas, will make one final stop on Tuesday. He’ll announce his selections the very next day! This trip is an important precursor to his making those final decisions.
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