Keegan Bradley’s dramatic win at TPC River Highlands has thrown a curveball into the Ryder Cup mix. After his one-shot victory in the Travelers Championship, Bradley, 39, said, “It’s still June, so we have got a long way to go [but] this definitely changes things a little bit.” He added that he’ll take a “hard look” at whether he should play in September’s Ryder Cup. All thanks to his trusted caddie, the victory moved Bradley to seventh in the world rankings and ninth in the American Ryder Cup qualification standings, opening the door to a potential dual role as captain and player.

Bradley admitted he never initially planned on playing, but the PGA of America’s suggestion to make him the first playing captain since Arnold Palmer in 1963 sparked new possibilities. He recalled having an “epiphany” at the US PGA Championship, feeling like one of the best players in the world with the crowd’s support. Bradley’s comments suggest he’s torn between focusing on captaincy and pursuing a spot on the team, and his openness to dual roles is the reason the golf world is upset with him.

Speaking on the latest episode of the No Laying Up podcast on YouTube, analyst Todd Schuster sparked controversy by questioning Keegan Bradley’s leadership. Schuster asked, “Can you say with a straight face that this team is better in September with Keegan being the captain versus Keegan playing?” Fellow analyst Chris Solomon chimed in, emphasizing the importance of valuing the captaincy and the country’s lineage. Solomon noted, “There’s a lineage there… it’s not just a singular lineage. Needs to start on the US side. There needs to be a plan.”

The discussion centered around whether Bradley should focus on captaining or playing in the Ryder Cup. Solomon believes Bradley’s potential dual role would be a distraction: “We don’t need this to be a distraction.” He slammed Bradley’s leadership, stating, “This is poor leadership from Keegan’s standpoint. I think this should have been, ‘Hey, if I’m taking the job, I’m not going to play.’”

Well, Bradley’s perspective is also nuanced, but he’s finding comfort in the support of his vice-captains, which include Webb Simpson, Brandt Snedeker, Kevin Kisner, and Jim Furyk. Bradley noted, “I never really planned on playing. Now, with the amazing vice-captains I have, I feel a lot more comfortable if I went that route.” With 10 tournaments left before the Ryder Cup deadline, Bradley has a chance to boost his rankings and potentially qualify automatically or get a captain’s pick.

Solomon emphasized the importance of the captain’s role, adding, “I just can’t in good conscience live in a world where I think the captain’s job is very, very important and also suggest that Keegan like could or should at somewhat of a last minute toss aside his captaincy for a playing role.” Well, if Bradley were to shift roles last minute, he doesn’t have many options to fill in his shoes, and certainly not who fans want to see as a captain the most.

“I would not be able to commit the time to Team USA”- Tiger Woods

The spotlight is on Tiger Woods as a potential replacement for Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley, but what does Woods himself think about taking on the role? Last year, when asked about the possibility of becoming a stand-in captain, Woods was clear: “With my new responsibilities to the TOUR and time commitments involved, I felt like I would not be able to commit the time to Team USA and the players required as a captain.” Woods has expressed interest in captaining the team in the future, saying, “If and when I feel it is the right time, I will put my hat in the ring for this committee to decide.” Given his meticulous approach to golf, it’s unlikely Woods would jump at the opportunity without adequate preparation.

Woods’ comments suggest he’s not looking to rush into the captaincy role. Instead, he’ll wait for the right moment to take on the challenge. As he said, “That does not mean I wouldn’t want to captain a team in the future.” With his history of careful planning and dedication, it’s likely Woods will captain Team USA at some point, but for now, it seems he might not be ready to step in for Bradley. So, what do you think will happen? Will Bradley really fill in two roles? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!