Keegan Bradley barely had time to catch his breath after the Tour Championship before shifting his focus to the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black. That’s the life of a captain — while most players unwind, Bradley is staring down one of the toughest jobs in golf: finalizing a Team USA roster that can handle the cauldron of Long Island from September 26–28.
Fresh off a T-7 finish at East Lake, Bradley showed his class by congratulating Tommy Fleetwood on his breakthrough win. Fleetwood, of course, is locked into the European side. Keegan Bradley? He’s the man tasked with choosing the lineup to stop Fleetwood and the rest of Team Europe from spoiling the party on American soil.
Who Makes the Cut for Team USA?
So far, six U.S. players have automatically qualified, but the conversation has quickly turned to Bradley’s captain’s picks. And the pressure is real. On Golf Channel, Damon Hack laid down what he sees as the non-negotiables: Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, and Patrick Cantlay.
“I have three locks right now,” Hack said. “Major champs or FedExCup champs in the case of Patrick Cantlay. Been there, done that. Even if Collin… not playing to the height of his power, it is someone that you trust.”
That’s a compelling case, especially for Thomas, who thrives in team formats, and Morikawa, who has the major pedigree. Cantlay, though further down the Ryder Cup standings (15th), reminded everyone of his firepower by tying for second at the Tour Championship.
But Hack wasn’t the only voice weighing in. Ryan Lavner added another name he believes fits perfectly at Bethpage Black: Cam Young. “Big hitter, knows the golf course, he is a perfect fit for that type of golf course. Big ball park at Bethpage Black. He’s done the exact thing you want to see over the past month and a half. Won his first tournament, played consistently well over the FedExCup Playoffs. T12 or better in all three Playoff events.” That’s the kind of form that’s hard to ignore.
With Sam Burns already on the team, the picture is getting crowded. Thomas, Morikawa, Cantlay, and Young are all making strong cases, while names like Ben Griffin, Maverick McNealy, and Andrew Novak are lurking as long shots. And hanging over everything is the wild card: Bradley himself. If he decides to pick himself, it would send shockwaves — but given his form and his passion for the Ryder Cup, would anyone be truly shocked?
One thing’s certain: Bradley’s decisions in the coming days won’t just shape Team USA’s chances. They’ll set the tone for what promises to be one of the most intense Ryder Cups in recent memory. At Bethpage, with New York fans at full throat, there’s no room for second-guessing. And that’s exactly why the next few weeks for Captain Keegan are as pressure-packed as anything he’ll ever face inside the ropes.
