LOS ANGELES: US Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley opted not to become the first playing captain in 62 years in the biennial match play showdown with Europe when he rounded out his squad on Wednesday.
Bradley named his six captain’s selections to complete the 12-man US team and didn’t call his own name, saying he ultimately decided he must focus on his captain’s duties as the Americans vie to regain the trophy they lost in Rome two years ago.
“I grew up wanting to play Ryder Cups,” Bradley said at a press conference at the PGA of America headquarters in Frisco, Texas.
“I grew up wanting to fight alongside these guys. And it just broke my heart no to play.”
“But ultimately I was chosen to do a job,” he added.
“I was chosen to be captain of this team. And my ultimate goal to start this whole thing was to be the best captain that I could be.
“And this is how I felt like I could do this. If we got to this point and I felt like the team was better with me on it, I was going to do it.
“I was going to do whatever I thought was best for this tam, and I know 100 per cent for certain this is the best choice.”
The 39-year-old’s strong season – including a victory at the Travelers Championship and six other top-10 finishes – sparked speculation he would choose himself and become the first US playing captain since Arnold Palmer in 1963.
US President Donald Trump, who plans to attend the first of three days of competition at Bethpage Black in New York, was among those weighing in with the opinion that Bradley should select himself.
“That was surreal, I’ve been blown away by the support, when you get the support of the President, it’s surreal, I appreciate it, I hope (he’s) not disappointed,” Bradley said.
Bradley, who said he thought the Ryder Cup had grown into “a different animal” since Palmer’s day, instead named two-time major winners Justin Thomas and Collin Morikawa, Ryder Cup veterans Patrick Cantlay and Sam Burns and rookies Ben Griffin and Cameron Young.
“I would say there was a point this year where I was playing, a while ago, and these guys stepped up in a major way and played their way onto this team,” Bradley said.
“It was an extremely difficult decision, but one that I’m really happy with and with these six players.
“And I’m glad it’s over,” he added of the agonizing selection process.
They join the six automatic qualifiers for the US lineup: top-ranked Scottie Scheffler, two-time major winners Xander Schauffele and Bryson DeChambeau, US Open winner J.J. Spaun and his fellow Ryder Cup rookie Russell Henley, and Harris English.
Scheffler has enjoyed another stellar season, with his five victories including major titles at the PGA Championship and British Open.
He headlines a US team vying to regain the trophy they surrendered with a 16.5-11.5 loss to Europe in Rome.
Team Europe will retain the bulk of their line-up from 2023 as they try to capture the first away victory in the event since their “Miracle at Medinah” in 2012.
Europe captain Luke Donald is scheduled to announce his six captain’s picks on September 1.
They will join automatic qualifiers Rory McIlroy, Robert MacIntyre, Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose, Rasmus Hojgaard and Tyrrell Hatton. – AFP
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
