Keegan Bradley removed as Presidents Cup vice-captain, Jim Furyk on the hunt to replace him
Bradley had two possibilities for joining Furyk's Presidents Cup team. He could have either been selected by the captain (he was ranked 10th overall in points) or become an assistant captain. On September 3, Furyk officially named Bradley as a player, meaning he'll be competing under him instead of assisting him.
This leaves the USA captain in need of a replacement, but he's currently searching for one. The golfer who was originally scheduled to be the assistant captain is now unavailable. Bradley had previously expressed his understanding of the difficult situation Furyk faced in making this decision.
Bradley could have played and served as an assistant captain, but Furyk wants him to concentrate on playing his best. NUCLR GOLF tweeted that the search for a new assistant captain will begin immediately after the selection.
Bradley was one of the six picks. The top six in points had already qualified, and players ranked seven through 12 were also selected, making it a straightforward selection based on rankings.
Furyk made a straightforward decision by selecting Bradley, which was different from the Ryder Cup. Despite finishing within the top 12 in Ryder Cup points last year, Bradley was overlooked by Zach Johnson, and some players ranked outside the top 12 were chosen for the team instead.
Jim Furyk addresses Keegan Bradley's new role
Jim Furyk was planning to work with Keegan Bradley in some capacity. He had choices, but that didn't make the decision any simpler. Did the captain want him to be on the sidelines with him or on the course with the players?
Furyk recently revealed that Bradley earned his spot on the roster courtesy of his recent impressive performances. Here's what he said: (via NBC Sports)
“When I named Keegan as a captain’s assistant for the Presidents Cup, I knew there was a chance he would play his way onto the U.S. team, and I can say without a doubt he did just that. The grit he showed in the final round in Memphis, followed by the win in Denver, exemplified the competitive nature he has always played with, and I know he will bring that same fire to Royal Montreal in a few weeks.”
Bradley's victory at the BMW Championship two weeks ago propelled him up the Presidents Cup points list, forcing Furyk to select him.