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We are a little more than a week away from getting the answer to the will-he-or-won’t-he question that has dominated Keegan Bradley’s role as captain of the United States Ryder Cup team, but the discussion won’t end with the announcement of his captain’s picks on Aug. 27.
Regardless of which way Bradley goes – and here’s a vote for him being a playing captain though his recent form has seemed to wilt with the summer heat – the discussion will continue. It will transition to did he do the right thing or not?
Bradley will ultimately be judged by which side raises the Ryder Cup on the evening of Sept. 28 on Long Island. If the Americans win, Bradley will be canonized for his passionate leadership and admired for either trusting himself enough to be a playing captain or being selfless enough to choose someone else.
If the Europeans win – and it looks as if Luke Donald may have a team at Bethpage Black that’s very similar to the one that won easily in Rome two years ago – Bradley likely becomes the fall guy even if he plays and goes 3-0.
It’s not entirely fair but it’s the nature of the beast.
Bradley has handled a difficult situation masterfully to this point, understanding the persistent questioning about his intentions, patiently explaining his operational process and seeming to embrace the opportunity rather than struggle with the burden.
Captaining a Ryder Cup team is the honor of a lifetime and Bradley has been an inspired choice, prompting Scottie Scheffler to say, “He has definitely exceeded my expectations as far as a captain.”
To a degree, Bradley has already been doing double duty. He’s had one of his best seasons as a player while handling his various captain’s duties, whether it’s chatting up players, slipping notes into their lockers or huddling with his vice captains and team manager about direction and strategy.
It changes now. The clock is ticking. Decisions are due.
Rory McIlroy opined last week that he doesn’t think it’s realistic to be a playing captain in the Ryder Cup, saying he’s been approached about doing it and dismissed the idea, citing a handful of legitimate reasons. More than a year ago, McIlroy said the same thing, contending that it’s an either/or choice.
“It’s just my opinion, but I think it would just be very difficult to do,” McIlroy reiterated last week.
If there is an easy part to Bradley’s job, it was completed Sunday when the six automatic qualifiers were locked in. Pack the uniforms and swag bags for Scheffler, J.J. Spaun, Xander Schauffele, Russell Henley, Bryson DeChambeau and Harris English.
The easy answer for Bradley would be to take himself out of the equation and focus solely on being the captain, spending his days at Bethpage in a cart from dawn to dusk. He can point to what he said when he was announced as captain, vowing to play only if he was an automatic qualifier, but the landscape has shifted.
It’s possible that Bradley has been so torn by his impending decision that it has impacted his performance in recent weeks.
Bradley has talked with captains of other national teams about organization, inspiration and motivation but he finds himself in a rare position.
“In this instance, there’s no one to call,” Bradley said.
If there is an easy part to Bradley’s job, it was completed Sunday when the six automatic qualifiers were locked in. Pack the uniforms and swag bags for Scheffler, J.J. Spaun, Xander Schauffele, Russell Henley, Bryson DeChambeau and Harris English.
Go ahead and add Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Ben Griffin and Patrick Cantlay to the team. Morikawa and Cantlay have not been great this year but if the goal is to bring the 12 players who give the Americans the best chance to win, they need to be on the team.
That leaves two spots. Bradley should take one of those spots, though his play has been flat in recent weeks. If he were not the captain, the discussion about him would be entirely different, endorsing his inclusion.
“I don’t think you’re going to find any or many Americans that are going to argue that he shouldn’t be on the team,” Rickie Fowler said.
That leaves the final spot for Cameron Young, Sam Burns or – long shot – Jordan Spieth and, maybe, Maverick McNealy.
If it’s about chemistry, go with Spieth. If it’s about putting, go with Young. If it’s about consistency, go with Burns.
There are, no doubt, mounds of data to support the various players and scenarios being considered. Every aspect of the Ryder Cup can be analyzed at a granular level. Someone probably knows if the Americans play better wearing blue pants or blue shirts.
The information should not overwhelm instinct and Bradley seems the type to trust his gut. Ultimately, the Ryder Cup is about more than the numbers. It’s about the players and who they are in the moment.
If Bradley, his lieutenants and his players believe he should play, he has his answer. If it doesn’t feel right to him, he can lead with a clear conscience. The second-guessing by everyone else is already baked into this cake.
Either way, Bradley finds himself in an enviable position. Intentionally or not, Bradley has operated on the perimeter of the tour’s inner circle. He’s never felt like or been one of the cool kids.
Now he is.
“I was really a closed-off player for most of my career,” Bradley said.
“I think as a golfer, or as an athlete or a businessman, whatever it is, when you feel the respect of your peers, that’s the ultimate.”
That shouldn’t change regardless of what his decision is.