Team USA captain Keegan Bradley is days away from making one of the biggest decisions of his life, one which could affect the fate of the Ryder Cup either way – should he include himself in the home side’s playing dozen at Bethpage Black?
The 39-year-old is 10th in the Americans’ Ryder Cup standings and would, in any other year, be a near-certain pick from whoever the captain is given he won recently and has shown impressive form all season long.
However, Bradley himself has refused to be drawn on Team USA’s personnel plans, leading to plenty of debate around whether it is logistically possible to perform at his peak while retaining 100% commitment to the managerial position.
The man at the centre of the debate has explained before that, should he end up as one of the 12 pros hoping to wrestle the little gold trophy back from the Europeans, there is a plan in place to avoid any disruption on the US side.
But, speaking ahead of the BMW Championship, Rory McIlroy insisted it is no longer possible to be a player and captain in the modern game due to the stresses and strains involved in leading alone.
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And that is a view largely shared by two-time Ryder Cup winner, David Howell.
Speaking to Golf Monthly, the member of Team Europe in 2004 and 2006 said: “It’s very possible to do both jobs, it’s just whether it’s possible to do them both well and be an addition to the team. Yeah, you can do both, but is it weakening you as a player and as a captain? You would have to think, yes.”
So, if operating as a player-captain is impossible, what are the alternatives? Most people have suggested that Bradley must give up the leadership role and focus on being a player as he may never earn another opportunity.
But the former World No.9 believes the scarcity of opportunity regarding Ryder Cup captaincy means that, if anything is to fall by the wayside, it should be competing as a player.
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He said: “I take a bit of a contrary view than most people that I talk to in the media or TV in that you should always choose to be a player. If I, as Keegan Bradley, had a guarantee that if he gives up the captaincy he’ll get it again in the future then, sure, go ahead and play.
“I’m not so sure they’re that likely to do that. In which case,…
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