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How Justin Thomas’s Ryder Cup points finish in seventh proves costly for Keegan Bradley

Originally posted on HITC | By Antony Martin | Last updated Sep 15, 2025 10:47 AM ET

Keegan Bradley’s US Ryder Cup side will include Justin Thomas, who has been picked to face Europe at Bethpage Black this September.

Thomas got off to a strong start in 2025, collecting four top-10 finishes in his first eight events, including a pair of runner-up spots.

By April, after picking up his 16th PGA Tour win at the RBC Heritage, it looked like his place on the team was already locked in.

But over the next few months, Thomas managed just one more top-five finish and missed two cuts in majors. That drop-off saw him slip out of automatic qualification for Bethpage Black.

The numbers have not improved since then, either. He is ranked 81st on tour for strokes gained off the tee this year, which has not helped quieten concerns about his form.

Bradley has every reason to be worried about where Thomas is right now. Despite being a two-time major winner and former world number one, he has not been playing like it recently.

The 32-year-old has stayed involved behind the scenes, though. He has reportedly been in regular contact with Bradley, offering to help however he can. It might explain why he still got picked despite his recent struggles.

All that said, none of it will matter if he does not perform when it counts. The US will need something much closer to his old self if they are going to challenge Europe at Bethpage Black.

Justin Thomas puts Keegan Bradley in an awkward position

Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Bradley had some tough choices to make when it came time to pick his six captain’s selections for the Ryder Cup, starting with whether he should play himself at Bethpage.

Thomas, who finished seventh in the US Ryder Cup points list, added to Bradley’s headache. It was a tough call, and had Thomas been outside the top 10, there would have been a much stronger case for leaving him out.

In that scenario, Bradley might have gone with himself or Maverick McNealy instead. And honestly, either option could have made the team stronger given how poorly Thomas fits Bethpage Black and how long he has been struggling.

Even though the former world number one did not grab an automatic spot, being just high enough on the list left Bradley stuck in no man’s land. Leaving him out would have sparked plenty of debate.

It put Captain Keegan in a difficult position, and it may well be that having Thomas finish seventh was exactly what Team USA did not need going into Bethpage.

Meanwhile, the Kentucky native is currently struggling. He barely made the cut at the Procore Championship, but a third-round score of 72 and a dismal 75 in the final round dropped him out of the top 60.

Justin Thomas’ form and driving could be costly for the US Ryder Cup team

Thomas’ driving accuracy, a significant and recurring problem, is particularly ill-suited for the demands of Bethpage.

Driving stats	Thomas’ rank in 2025
Driving distance	74th
Driving accuracy	146th
Total driving	148th
Strokes gained driving	81st

That would not be as worrying if he ranked among the top 15 or 20 in driving distance, but he does not have the length he used to either.

You can bet Team Europe are taking notice.

No pro enjoys seeing another struggle, but with the Ryder Cup approaching, things take on a different edge.

Thomas has not found his game in the second half of the season, and staying just high enough in the points to require a pick left Bradley with no real good options.

The only silver lining is that there are still 12 days before play begins. In golf, that is more than enough time for something to turn around.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

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