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Jordan Spieth Backs Keegan Bradley to Take up Playing Captain Role at 2025 Ryder Cup

Originally posted on FirstSportz | By Vinay Dave | Last updated Jul 8, 2025 9:59 AM ET

Keegan Bradley has caused a massive stir in the golfing world with his impressive victory at the Travelers Championship a couple of weeks ago. His win has led to many urging him to take up the role of playing captain at the 2025 Ryder Cup. He has also received some strong backing from 3-time major champion Jordan Spieth.

Bradley, the 8-time PGA Tour winner, was announced as the captain of Team USA last year. He would be named as the successor of Zach Johnson after he and his team suffered a crushing defeat against Team Europe in the 2023 event in Rome, Italy.

This development also came after Bradley missed the 2023 event. The golfer was not chosen as one of the 6 captain’s pick and was snubbed from the event.

Since that snub, Bradley has picked up a couple of wins. He won the BMW Championship in August last year and has been a top performer on the PGA Tour this year.

At the 2025 Travelers Championship, Bradley shocked the world as he came from behind and defeated Tommy Fleetwood, a European golfer, to claim his 8th win on the PGA Tour.

Since that win, the possibility of Bradley picking himself as one of the 12 players has increased. While he has not made any decision yet, there are some who have backed him.

In an appearance at the Up & Adams Show, Jordan Spieth was asked about his thoughts regarding the chance of Bradley being a playing captain. The former World No.1 would back him and pointed out that he has got a group of good assistant captains to look out for other things.

As of right now, if he’s playing as a top-12 American player, then he should be on that team, in my opinion. I think you throw out the politics, he’s got a great group of assisting captains around him…If this guy’s going to be one of the best ten players at that tournament, which is how he (Bradley) is playing right now, then of course you want him.

Jordan Spieth on Keegan Bradley potentially picking himself for the Ryder Cup:

“If he’s playing as a top 12 American player, then he should be on that team… for the betterment of the team, I think he deserves it right now.”
— Underdog Golf (@UnderdogGolf) July 7, 2025

The last time a golfer played in the Ryder Cup while also serving as the captain of Team USA was in 1963. That year, the late great Arnold Palmer took on the playing captain role. He would lead his country to a 23-9 victory over Great Britain while going 3-1 in pairs and 1-1 in singles matches.

Keegan Bradley admitted that winning Travelers Championship ‘changed’ things a bit for him for Ryder Cup

Keegan Bradley’s incredible win at the Travelers Championship has shaken up a few things. After winning the event for the 2nd time in 3 years, the 39-year-old admitted that he will now consider the option of him as a playing captain at the 2025 Ryder Cup.

In the post-round conference, the former major champion expressed that he was not going to play before. However, the win at the TPC River Highlands has opened the doors for him.

This changes the story a little bit. I never would have thought about playing if I hadn’t won. This definitely opens the door to play.

Keegan Bradley on the Ryder Cup:

"I'm going to do whatever I think is best for the team. Whether that's me on the team…this certainly changes a lot of things."
— Underdog Golf (@UnderdogGolf) June 22, 2025

After his win at the Travelers Championship, Bradley finished T41 in the Rocket Classic. After the John Deere Classic this week, Bradley is ranked 9th in the top-12 standings.

So far, only World No.1 Scottie Scheffler has booked his place in the team from the USA side. Along with him, the other top 5 placed golfers will automatically be selected for the event. Apart from the top 6, Bradley will have 6 picks from 7th to 15th in the standings. He could select any 6 of them and skip himself if he wants to.

As for Team Europe, Rory McIlroy is the only one who has been automatically qualified. The World No.2 became the first player from the European side to book his place following an incredible start to the 2025 season, which saw him finally win the Masters Tournament and complete the career grand slam.

This year, the event will take place at the Bethpage Course in New York. Team Europe would be looking to go back-to-back in this event for the first time in over a decade.

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

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