Ryder Cup: Bradley passes, these 6 players are his picks for Team USA

The speculation has come to an end: Keegan Bradley, captain of the US Ryder Cup team, has announced his six captain's picks to complete the squad for the clash against Europe. With his selection, a mixture of established stars and promising debutants, Bradley has formed a strong squad to reclaim the trophy on home soil in Bethpage. The biggest surprise, however, was not who made the team, but who made a conscious decision not to: Bradley himself.

For months there was a question as to whether the 39-year-old would become the first "Playing Captain" at the Ryder Cup since Arnold Palmer in 1963. His strong season, crowned by victory at the Travelers Championship, had fueled the debate. But Bradley decided to keep the role of captain on the sidelines and focus fully on leading the team. "I was heartbroken not to play," Bradley explained, "but I was chosen as captain and my goal was to be the best captain I could be."

Captain's Picks Ryder Cup Team USA

The six players selected fit seamlessly into the already established framework of automatically qualified golfers: Scottie Scheffler, J.J. Spaun, Xander Schauffele, Russell Henley, Harris English and Bryson DeChambeau.

One of the most experienced nominees is Justin Thomas, who will be playing in the Ryder Cup for the fourth time. Bradley emphasized his central importance to the team: he is "the heartbeat of our team" and someone who "was born to play the Ryder Cup." Another familiar figure in the US team is Collin Morikawa, who is celebrating his third participation. The captain was convinced: "He will do everything he can to help our team win."

In addition to the experienced players, Bradley also brought new faces on board. Ben Griffin, a rookie who has made a name for himself with two PGA Tour victories and consistently strong results, is making his debut. According to Griffin, it is "the greatest honor of his career". Local hero Cameron Young will also be taking part for the first time. Young, who was born near Bethpage and made history on this course as an amateur in 2017, impressed the captain with his form, which culminated in a victory at the Wyndham Championship.

Rounding out the picks are two more established players: Patrick Cantlay returns for a third time and will be a mainstay with his analytical style of play and impressive record in match play. Sam Burns is competing in his second Ryder Cup and brings his excellent putting skills to the team.

Why Keegan Bradley is not playing

Bradley's decision not to include himself in the team was a deliberate move to boost the team's momentum. Despite being 11th in the final Ryder Cup rankings, he felt the other players were the deserving choices. "These guys have stepped up in an impressive way and played their way onto this team," he said. With this move, he not only ended one of the biggest debates in recent Ryder Cup history, but also sent a clear message: his sole focus is on the USA winning.

Now it is up to captain Bradley to lead his twelve players in the best possible way when they line up in Bethpage Black at the end of September to reclaim the trophy that fell to the European team in Rome in 2023.