On Friday, Harris English & Collin Morikawa were one of the worst Team U.S. pairings as they were absolutely humiliated at the hands of the Europeans. Rory McIlroy & Tommy Fleetwood inflicted an embarrassing 5 & 4 defeat, adding to the domination of their team on Friday. After the horrid day, you would think Keegan Bradley would have learned his lesson and not paired the incompatible duo, as per Data Golf, on Day 2. But then, you’d be wrong.

Bradley’s decision to make English & Morikawa face McIlroy & Fleetwood again on Saturday was so surprising that even Paige Spiranac was perplexed about the Team U.S. captain’s strategy. It’s not like the golf diva is not a fan of Keegan. She was one of the first ones to support his decision to pick Bryson DeChambeau for the Friday Foursomes. Not that Bradley’s faith on the LIV Golf pro has worked out as well. But that’s a conversation for another day. But for the Morikawa & English issue, Spiranac shared her concern about Bradley’s pick on X.

“I don’t understand how nobody on team USA spoke up and said yeah maybe the Morikawa/English pairing just isn’t it,” Paige said, as she, like many analysts, was surprised that Keegan chose to stick with the pairing. His faith in them has faltered as they were demolished by McIlroy & Fleetwood once again. Morikawa & English lost 3 & 2 to gift Team Europe another point in their effort to retain the title.

Moreover, repeatedly sending a struggling pairing out, especially after a heavy loss, can wear on team morale. The decision may have created an arena for doubt and anxiety among U.S. players, potentially eroding confidence not just for English and Morikawa but for the wider squad observing Bradley’s unwavering (and ineffective) faith in a losing combination.

This psychological dynamic is significant in the Ryder Cup, where team confidence and unity can determine momentum. So in a way, the losses impact not just scoreboard standings but also affect belief within the squad, often leading to tension and pressure as the event progresses.

So with that in context, what else could Bradley have done to help Team U.S. overcome the European threat at Bethpage?

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What could Keegan Bradley have done to avoid such complaints from Paige Spiranac & Co.?

According to the information shared by Data Golf, the duo of Collin Morikawa and Harris English was the 132nd-worst combination Team U.S. can put on the field in the 2025 Ryder Cup. But Keegan Bradley didn’t rely on any data as he decided to have faith in his players. His decision to play Bryson DeChambeau in foursome matches, despite experts advising him to bench the LIV Golf pro, is a prime example of that.

But the fact that he chose Morikawa and English to compete with McIlroy and Fleetwood comes as an even more surprising decision. Rory & Tommy form one of the strongest Ryder Cup teams in alternate shot matches. Apart from this year, their partnership also excelled at the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome, where they won both of their foursomes matches and played a pivotal role in Europe’s success.

So, after their win today, they now hold the record of 4-0-0 in the format. Which is why, while DeChambeau was still able to overcome the odds after three attempts, it wouldn’t be fair for Bradley to expect Morikawa & English to deliver the same level of performance. He could have instead chosen in-form players like Justin Thomas & J.J. Spaun to go up against the tough opposition. Especially considering the fact that Team U.S. has a huge point disadvantage now.