Ryder Cup: Team USA is set

The captain’s press conference started with the host outlining Keegan Bradley’s great record this season. It seemed like he was setting the table for Keegan to pick himself…

Until he didn’t.

I thought it would have been a huge mistake for Bradley to pick himself for the team. He would have set himself up for a massive failure if the team lost at home for the third time since the USA has won on European soil in 1993.

It was a lose-lose situation for Bradley. Win, and it’s a shrug and a cool story; lose, and he’s a scapegoat and a poster child for selfish American golfers.

“The decision was made a while ago that I wasn’t going to play,” Keegan said.

A bit later in the press conference, he said, “I never considered playing until after Travellers, so that was on the table for a while.”

Let’s be honest: Keegan Bradley wouldn’t have been named the Ryder Cup captain if the Netflix cameras hadn’t witnessed the call between him and Zach Johnson two years ago.

Another inflection point was LIV Golf stealing away Phil Mickelson. When the venue was announced, he was the surefire Bethpage Black Ryder Cup Captain. He’s beloved in New York and had some rousing moments at Bethpage, including the fans singing him Happy Birthday.

Instead, he got the bag and might never be a Ryder Cup captain.

So here we are. Keegan Bradley now has his team, and he’s not playing.

Bradley was excellent in the press conference. He came across as confident and relieved at the same time.

There was one moment during the Cam Young interview where he hinted that Sam Burns would be picked. He was asked if any of his Ryder Cup teammates knew he won the 2014 Junior Ryder Cup in Scotland.

Young said the only player who might know is Sam Burns, who was also on that 2014 team. There was a slight chuckle in the crowd, and there were still two picks remaining. It turned out to be true. Sam Burns was picked.

Who did Keegan pick?

Justin Thomas: “He’s the heartbeat of our team.”

Collin Morikawa: “He’ll do whatever it takes to win.”

Ben Griffin: “An extremely confident, exciting player.”

Cam Young: “One of the most consistent players on tour the last 4 or 5 years.”

Patrick Cantlay: “He’s a leader of our team. Patrick was born for the Ryder Cup.”

Sam Burns: “Incredibly passionate golfer. Best putter on the planet.”

Ultimately, the 13 most deserving players are going to Bethpage Black. Keegan probably had a chance to be a captain’s pick if he wasn’t the actual captain, and there doesn’t seem to be a “snub” who will be sitting at home. I’m sure Mav McNealy and Chris Gotterup hoped to make the team, but they don’t feel like snubs.

Luke Donald will make his selections on September 1.

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