New York: As Tommy Fleetwood continues to wrestle with how to get over the winning line on the PGA Tour, American golf is trying to fathom how having a playing captain might work at this year’s Ryder Cup. Both issues were brought into sharp focus by Keegan Bradley’s dramatic victory over Fleetwood at the Travellers Championship in Connecticut last Sunday. It was the Englishman’s sixth runner-up finish on the US-based circuit, and this one “hurts”.
According to BBC, the dilemma arises from the question of who Bradley might leave out if he has to pick himself. It challenges the feasibility of performing dual roles in the modern era with both requiring immense focus and dedication. The situation raises significant questions that could easily undermine the American effort amidst an expected cacophony on Long Island in New York.
This was always a potential dilemma from the moment, a year ago, that the 39-year-old Bradley became a shock selection to lead America’s quest to regain that precious pot of gold. The Ryder Cup today is far more significant than it was in 1963 when Arnold Palmer was the last playing captain. Back then, Palmer played in all six sessions, winning four points, in an overall 23-9 victory. However, the modern Ryder Cup is one of the biggest and most transcendent sporting events on the planet, with captaincy being an all-consuming, potentially contentious role.
Playing is exhausting too, and combining both roles effectively seems nigh on impossible. Or at least it was thought to be until Bradley received the call from the PGA of America’s then-boss Seth Waugh last year. “We want you to be the first playing captain since Palmer,” was the gist of Waugh’s stunning call to a player who had been cruelly overlooked as a player for the 2023 defeat in Rome. It was and remains a bizarre selection, reflecting that with Tiger Woods wanting to wait for the 2027 match, the US cupboard of candidates was bare.
Trevor Immelman, who commented on Bradley’s latest victory for CBS, remarked, “In my opinion, there is just no way that you could be a captain nowadays of a Ryder Cup or a Presidents Cup and play. There are so many responsibilities at the feet of the captain. So many decisions that have to be made before the tournament and then during the week.” Immelman, who captained the International team in the 2022 Presidents Cup, is in charge of the official world rankings, with Bradley riding high at number seven, with only five Americans ahead of him.
The US team faces a tough spot. Bradley insists there is planning in place for this situation, saying he would be a playing captain who would lean heavily on his assistants. Of those, only Jim Furyk has captaincy credence, with the relatively inexperienced Kevin Kisner, Webb Simpson, and Brandt Snedeker in the background. It is a far from ideal situation.
Meanwhile, Europe has the inspirational and analytical Luke Donald watching on, no doubt wondering whether he can exploit all this uncertainty to help land a rare away win. Donald has witnessed a series of European wins on American soil this year from the likes of Rory McIlroy, Ludvig Aberg, Sepp Straka, Thomas Detry, and Viktor Hovland. Fleetwood should have added to the list at TPC River Highlands last week after dominating the Signature Event until suffering two bogeys in the last three holes.
Even though Fleetwood has struggled to secure a win on US soil, he remains a different animal in the Ryder Cup, where match play dictates positivity on the greens. He has a proven track record, having won four out of five points in Paris on debut in 2018 and securing vital victories in Rome. Donald will be thrilled to have him on his team again this year, where he is likely to resume a successful partnership with McIlroy.
Fleetwood’s potential clash with Bradley this autumn at Bethpage is a tantalizing prospect. Despite Sunday’s defeat, Fleetwood remains one of eight worldwide players above Bradley on the Data Golf rankings. Bradley, who was on the losing side the last time there was an away win at Medinah in 2012, has not played for the US Ryder Cup team since. However, he likely will this time as the captain. It is a scenario that might inspire, but the overall demands could inhibit, and if they do, Fleetwood and his team could capitalize.