Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley confirmed Wednesday that he will not select himself to play in next month’s competition, ending weeks of speculation over whether he would become the first playing captain since Arnold Palmer in 1963.
Instead, Bradley announced his six captain’s picks: Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Ben Griffin, Cameron Young, Patrick Cantlay, and Sam Burns. They will join the six automatic qualifiers — Scottie Scheffler, J.J. Spaun, Xander Schauffele, Russell Henley, Harris English, and Bryson DeChambeau — to complete Team USA’s roster for the 45th Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in New York next month.
Bradley, 39, admitted the decision was difficult after a standout season in which he earned two PGA Tour victories and finished tied for seventh in the FedExCup standings. “It broke my heart not to play because you work forever to make these teams,” he said. “But ultimately, I was chosen to be captain, and my goal from the start was to be the best captain I could be. I know 100% this was the right choice.”
The build-up had been dominated by the possibility of Bradley picking himself, with even former President Donald Trump publicly urging him to play. But Bradley said his choice was made “a while ago” and emphasized that the six players he selected “stepped up in a major way” down the stretch.
Bradley leaned on advice from his vice captains — Jim Furyk, Kevin Kisner, Webb Simpson, Brandt Snedeker, and Gary Woodland — before finalizing the selections. “We weren’t scrambling at all,” he explained. “These six guys made my decision a lot easier.”
The Ryder Cup begins Friday, September 26, with Trump also confirming he will be in attendance for the opening day.