Keegan Bradley reiterates his stance on LIV golfers’ Ryder Cup team selection after BMW Championship win
Keegan Bradley was recently unveiled as the new US Ryder Cup team captain. The 38-year-old golfer seems to be in good form since his appointment to the new role as he won the BMW Championship on Sunday (August 25). Following the win, the ace golfer didn’t shy away from making some comments on his new skipper role.
Bradley answered media queries about some Ryder Cup captaincy decisions including the inclusion of LIV golfers in his team. The seven-time PGA Tour winner doubled down on his earlier comment and stated that he will make sure that eligible players from the breakaway tour are part of his side. The ace golfer repeated that he is “going to have the best 12 players” in the team.
However, he also noted that LIV players remain ineligible to compete in the international competition as they are not PGA members.
Speaking about LIV golfers’ Ryder Cup team selection, Keegan Bradley said in the 2024 BMW Championship winner’s press conference, as quoted by ASAP Sports:
“I'm going to have the best 12 players, so the PGA of America, they -- we're going to have the 12 best players, so they need to figure that out, if that's their problem. I know you have to be a PGA member to play in the Ryder Cup. That's the only stipulation that you need.
"So, we’ll make sure if some of those guys that we think might make the team, we'll make sure that they are a member.”
The next edition of the Ryder Cup will be played next year at Bethpage Black on Long Island. Bradley, the youngest US captain since Arnold Palmer in 1963, will need to announce his team ahead of the event. Notably, American LIV players like Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka are currently ineligible to automatically join the team as they don’t earn ranking points.
Last year, Koepka was the sole LIV player on the US Ryder Cup squad. He was picked by captain Zach Johnson. The skipper had received criticism for overlooking other players and picking PGA Tour stars for the team.
Keegan Bradley on the Ryder Cup qualification process
Keegan Bradley said his team has looked into the Ryder Cup qualification process a “little bit.” The golfer admitted that it isn’t still finalised but stated that the LIV golfers’ selection is the “only weird area” in the system. He backed the current system while adding that he’d have to figure out how the final call would be made.
Discussing the Ryder Cup players’ qualification process, Keegan Bradley said at Castle Pines, as quoted by ASAP Sports:
“We've gotten into it a little bit. I don't see there being in the tweaks. I think the system -- to finish in the top six is really difficult. I don't think that -- those always identify the best six, I think, on the U.S. side. The only weird area is the LIV guys, what they do and where they fall on the list. We're going to have to really get with the captains, get with the team that's going to be there and figure that out.”
Interestingly, Keegan Bradley also reiterated his wish to become a playing captain. He claimed that Phil Mickelson or Tiger Woods would’ve played on the teams if they were in his place. However, he admitted it ‘hard’ to make his own team.