Keegan Bradley offers predictable response to crucial Ryder Cup question

Team USA Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley says he'll consider teeing it up at Bethpage Black as a player closer to the tournament.

But for now, his sole focus is on preparing for the next biennial dust-up in New York as the skipper. 

Bradley was named as Zach Johnson's successor by the PGA of America in July. 

Related:

• U.S. Ryder Cup standings
• European Ryder Cup standings

His appointment sparked widespread disbelief, given his age and lack of leadership experience. 

It was anticipated either Stewart Cink or Fred Couples were going to be offered the position after Tiger Woods turned it down. 

Bradley, who is 38, will be the youngest skipper since Arnold Palmer combined playing with the captaincy in 1963.

The American was in good form prior to the 2023 Cup in Rome and was regarded as unfortunate not be included considering the poor form others. 

His disappointment at missing out was laid bare by the Netflix cameras. 

Bradley rushed back home to take Johnson's call, expecting to be told good news. 

But he ended up getting absolutely crushed. 

Although the 2025 Ryder Cup is 11 months away, it's not unreasonable to suggest Bradley could qualify for the team as a player. 

Bradley has already ruled out the possibility of picking himself. 

Rory McIlroy previously declared it's not possible for Bradley to combine the two roles. 

"If you want to be the best captain you can be, you can't play," McIlroy previously said.  

"And if you want to be the best player, you can't captain. 

"So it's one or the other, especially with how big the Ryder Cup has become and how many things you have to do in the lead-up to the event."

Bradley is not thinking about that yet. 

The golfer and his European counterpart, Luke Donald, spoke to reporters in New York on Tuesday. 

"So it was really important for me to be around the team," Bradley said, referring to his recent experience as a player at the Presidents Cup last month. 

"First, I was going to be a vice captain and then, you know, obviously I played. 

"So it was important for me to remember the nerves of these tournaments [and] the preparation that goes into it.

"I was able to really watch what Jim [Furyk] and the vice captains did and create an atmosphere for us to succeed and to do well, be prepared, know who you're playing with an have a plan." 

He added: "As for me to play, it's always [been] a goal of mine to qualify and play in Ryder Cup teams [but] it's so far off now that I'm not going to worry about it. 

"Once we get closer to the tournament and [if] I'm up there on the points list [then] we'll start to think about it. 

"But right now I'm focused on being the captain of the team and that's it."

The 2025 Ryder Cup will be played over 26-28 September. 

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