US Ryder Cup Captain Keegan Bradley officially made Wednesday that he would not play a dual role in the 2025 biennial competition set held at Beth Page Black from September 26-28. He chose not to choose his name and put himself on the play roster – which was long anticipated, so many believed he should – he crushed the idea of the captain’s performance with one of the most selfish decisions seen in quite a long time, given his well-documented heartbreak that he left the Ryder Cup team in 2023.
The six captains are Justin Thomas, Colin Morakawa, Ben Griffin, Cameron Young, Patrick Cantray and Sam Burns. Four of the six selections are about to debut with the Ryder Cup experience with Griffin and Young Set. Thomas, Morikawa, Cantray and Burns were all members of the US team that lost in Rome two years ago.
At the age of 39, Bradley’s opportunity to hit shots for the Americans is nearing its end, making choices even more difficult for men who have yet to unleash their suitcases from the 2012 Ryder Cup, which the US lost in an unbearable way.
The remaining six players will be selected by the captain while the top six players of the US Ryder Cup at the end of the BMW Championship (the penultimate tournament of the season) are automatically qualified for a 12-man team. Bradley finished season 11 in rankings, but was as high as single-digit numbers in multiple points throughout the campaign. The margin is very slim, and Americans enter as -130 favorites per fan duel – all captain picks are those that can change the tide of the event.
“The decision that I wasn’t playing was made some time ago,” Bradley revealed Wednesday. “We set up the team for the last 48 hours. We weren’t scrambled at all. This was a really tough decision. There was a point I was playing for this year – a while ago.
“I’m glad it’s finished.”
Bradley was the youngest Ryder Cup captain in the United States since Arnold Palmer (34) in 1963, and his choice for the role came not only due to the passion for competition, but also the fact that then Captain Zack Johnson was taken over as a player on the 2023 team at least in part. His promotion to captain in 2025 had something to do with the American PGA supporting him as a play captain. Bradley insisted that he would consider a play only if he acquired it throughout the season.
“When they called me and said I was the captain of the Ryder Cup, the first thing they said was, “We want to be captain of your first play since Arnold Palmer (1963).” “… They knew that was the possibility and we would put things in place for that. I’m always trying to be the best I can do.
Bradley explained Wednesday that he only considers adding himself to the team as a player after the traveller. He achieved his only goal for the Americans to place themselves to win on Sunday of the Ryder Cup, saying, “That’s the only outcome I care about.”
Bradley provided further insight into his decision not to play despite the Ryder Cup standing out as his most important event.
“I grew up wanting to play the Ryder Cup. I grew up wanting to fight with these guys. It broke things that didn’t break my heart – it really did – you will work forever to make these teams.” “In the end, I was chosen to do the job. I was chosen to be the captain of this team. My ultimate goal to get started with this was to be the best captain I could. This is how I felt I could reach this.
“I know 100% of the time that this is certainly the right choice. These six people have taken the extremely stretching down intermittently here, making my decision much easier.”
The automatic qualifiers on his roster are made up of world number one Scotty Schaeffler, US Open Champion JJ Span, Zander Schauferle, Russell Henry, Harris English and Bryson Deccanbeau. Scheffler, Schauffele, English and Dechambeau are the last members of the US team to win the 2021 Ryder Cup victory, with Spaun and Henley making their first appearance in the competition.
2025 US Ryder Cup Team
*Captain’s Pick
Scotty Schaeffler (1) | 3 | 2-2-3 |
JJ Spaun (2) | 1 | – |
Xander Schauffele (3) | 3 | 4-4-0 |
Russell Henry (4) | 1 | – |
Harris English (5) | 2 | 1-2-0 |
Bryson Deccanbeau (6) | 3 | 2-3-1 |
Justin Thomas* (7) | 4 | 7-4-2 |
Collin Morikawa* (8) | 3 | 4-3-1 |
| Ben Griffin* (9) | 1 | – |
Cameron Young* (14) | 1 | – |
Patrick Cantrey* (15) | 3 | 5-2-1 |
Sam Burns* (16) | 2 | 1-2-0 |
Bradley wasn’t short of his choices. Among the top 12 people not selected for the team, Maverick McNely (No. 10) was handed over. Brian Herman (No. 12) concluded the group with Andrew Novak (No. 13) coming and going to the final spot over the final weeks of the season.
Bradley took McNerry to experience instead of playing a level away from the team for Cantray and Burns. In total, there are four first-time participants in the US.
Associate Captains Jim Furik, Kevin Kissner, Gary Woodland, Webb Simpson and Blunt Snedeker will support Bradley in his efforts to lead the team. Furik could be second to take on the duties for Bradley, given his experience captaining the 2018 Ryder Cup and the 2024 Presidential Cup team. This year, following the amendment to the Captain’s agreement, after recognizing his ability to give players advice to the vice captain, it was expected that these men would take part in Bradley’s responsibility if he played. Alas, it’s no longer necessary.
The Ryder Cup has been held in the US since 1995
1995 | Oak Hill | 13.5 | 14.5 |
1999 | Brookline | 14.5 | 13.5 |
2004 | Auckland Hills | 9.5 | 18.5 |
2008 | Valhalla | 16.5 | 11.5 |
2012 | Medina | 13.5 | 14.5 |
2016 | Hazeltin | 17 | 11 |
| 2021 | Mouth whistring Strait | 19 | 9 |
The US has lost 10 of its last 14 Ryder Cups to Europe, with all four victories coming in the soil of their homes. The advantage of the home course proves monumental in the plays of recent events. The Last Road Victor to Appear in 2012 – Rider Cup called “Medina of Miracle” after Europe overcomes the deficit of the Sunday singles on the 10th to shock the US
