Keegan Bradley recently put on a stunning performance at the 2025 Arnold Palmer Invitational, even though he didn’t clinch the title. His final round score of -8, with a remarkable 7-under par on the front 9, catapulted him up to T5 from a position of T27. This extraordinary feat has hardly been replicated by other golfers at Bay Hill Golf Club, not even the legendary Tiger Woods.
Such a remarkable display has placed Bradley in a strong position to qualify for a playing captain role in the upcoming 2025 Ryder Cup. However, this ambition is not without its fair share of challenges and controversy.
With the Ryder Cup only six months away, Bradley is faced with some big decisions. Among these is the selection of his ‘Captain’s Picks’ for the tournament. Moreover, he is also keen on qualifying as a player on merit, aiming to secure a spot in the top six of the US Ryder Cup rankings. However, according to a Sky Sports analyst, achieving this is currently not feasible.
Brad Faxon, a former PGA Tour pro, joined Jamie on Sky Sports Golf’s YouTube channel to discuss Bradley’s situation. Faxon highlighted Bradley’s stance, stating that his participation as a player will depend on whether he finishes in the top six. This position has been maintained since he expressed his intention to take on the role of a playing captain. However, there are concerns from the community about Bradley emulating Tiger Woods’ move in the 2019 Presidents Cup.
Faxon also mentioned that Bradley has a robust team of Vice Captains whom he trusts to make the majority of decisions, allowing him to focus on playing in the Ryder Cup. He also acknowledged Bradley’s disappointment when he wasn’t picked by Zack Johnson in 2023, pointing out his excellent driving ability and his suitability as the playing captain.
Despite the criticism, if Bradley does assume the role of a playing captain, there are speculations about his performance. A look at Tiger Woods’s experience in the same role in the 2019 Presidents Cup offers some insights.
Woods led the 2019 US Presidents Cup Team and even selected himself as a ‘Captain’s Pick’. While they did win the title, the pressure of being a playing captain was immense. Woods only participated in 3 of the 5 events, winning each time. However, he admitted the role was stressful, only taking the field again when it was mandatory for the singles matches on Sunday. This experience led Webb Simpson to advise Bradley against taking up the dual role in the 2025 Ryder Cup.
As the anticipation for the 2025 Ryder Cup builds, it remains to be seen if Bradley will heed this advice. Will he successfully navigate the challenges of being a playing captain? Only time will tell.