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Rickie Fowler Makes Honest Admission About Keegan Bradley Ahead of Ryder Cup

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Arnab Mondal | Last updated Aug 13, 2025 7:38 AM ET

Rickie Fowler has no doubts about Keegan Bradley’s place on the U.S. Ryder Cup team, even if Bradley has to pick himself. Speaking on the subject, Fowler said during a press conference, “I would pick him too. I think it’d be hard to find really any or many Americans that would argue that point.”

Bradley, who is also the team’s captain, could make history as the first playing captain since Arnold Palmer in 1963. While captaincy usually comes with heavy responsibilities, PGA rules now allow the captain to compete if selected, or in this case, if he selects himself.

" I feel like a lot of times it's, there's really only like one or two that maybe fluctuate, you know, based off of people that were maybe inside the top 12 on points that maybe don't get picked," Fowler added.

Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele have also backed Bradley. Bradley is currently hovering near the 10th or 11th spot in Ryder Cup points, meaning a win at the BMW Championship could lock his spot automatically.

"I don't think you're going to find many Americans that are going to argue that he shouldn't be on the team."

Rickie Fowler thinks Keegan Bradley should pick himself for the Ryder Cup. pic.twitter.com/gpZpX33q1z
— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) August 12, 2025

The Ryder Cup begins September 26, bringing together the best of the U.S. and Europe in one of golf’s most intense competitions.

Rickie Fowler Needs a Formidable Start at BMW Championship

Rickie Fowler knows the stakes at this week’s BMW Championship couldn’t be higher. After leaping from 64th to 48th in the FedEx Cup standings with a T-6 finish at the FedEx St. Jude, he now needs at least a solo 13th-place finish at Caves Valley to have a shot at cracking the top 30 and reaching the Tour Championship.

Strong performances here and next week could also catch Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley’s eye, as Fowler currently at a position in the U.S. standings. It’s not an automatic path, but for Fowler, good golf now could mean a postseason and Ryder Cup lifeline.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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