Keegan Bradley hits back at Rory McIlroy after shock decision to stoke Ryder Cup fire

USA captain Keegan Bradley has made his Ryder Cup decision – and has immediately gone on the offensive.

On Wednesday morning, the 39-year-old from Boston announced his six captain’s picks to make up the 12 players to compete at Bethpage Black in late September.

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To much surprise, Bradley did not pick himself, with many assuming the world No.11 would become the first playing captain since Arnold Palmer in 1963.

It was an idea that was put to European talisman Rory McIlroy – who will be a key cog in Luke Donald’s well oiled machine – just a few weeks ago, and he made his feelings quite clear.

“The idea of me being a playing captain sometime soon has come up and I’ve shot it down straight away because I don’t think you can do it,” McIlroy said.

“If you’d have said it 20 years ago I’d say it was probably possible to do, but how big of a spectacle it is and everything that’s on the line in a Ryder Cup now, I just think it would be a very difficult position to be in.

“There’s a lot of things that people don’t see that the captain does the week of the Ryder Cup, especially now that the Ryder Cup has become so big.

“You think about the extra meetings that the captains have to do with the vice captains, with the PGA of America, in Keegan’s case, preparing your speech for the opening ceremony.

“Really, the captain’s only going to be able to play one session on Friday, one session on Saturday. Would you rather not have a player that has the flexibility to go twice if he’s playing well?

“It’s just my opinion, but I think it would just be very difficult to do.”

In front of a packed media room at the US Ryder Cup captain’s press conference, Bradley unveiled his six picks, omitting himself in a surprise move.

The selections instead included Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Ben Griffin, Cameron Young, Patrick Cantlay and Sam Burns.

Bradley was asked if McIlroy’s comments had any impact on his decision, and he was swift in his response.

“I am not worried about what they do or say,” Bradley said.

“I’m not sure how he would know if it is not possible, nobody has ever done it, I said through this process I wish I could call Palmer and get his advice.

“The simple fact is it’s a different animal now to the 60s, they can make comments on what I can or cannot do. No-one would have known. I was confident if I did need to play, I had incredible vice captains to lean on. This was the decision I thought was best.”

Bradley was surprisingly announced as the captain in July 2024, having only played on two previous Ryder Cup teams, both of which were beaten and the immediate concern was whether he might find his way into the team as a player.

After a win at the Travelers Championship in June, he was in contention to be one of six automatic selections, but his form has been steady rather than spectacular in the months since.

He recorded he first top 10 since the Travelers at the TOUR Championship last weekend, but that was only his fourth in 15 events this year.

2025 US Ryder Cup Team

Automatic qualifiers

Scottie Scheffler – 3rd appearance (2021, 2023)

JJ Spaun – Debut

Xander Schauffele – 3rd appearance (2021, 2023)

Russell Henley – Debut

Harris English – 2nd appearance (2021)

Bryson DeChambeau – 3rd appearance (2018, 2021)

Captain’s Picks

Justin Thomas – 4th appearance (2018, 2021, 2023)

Collin Morikawa – 3rd appearance (2021, 2023)

Ben Griffin – Debut

Cameron Young – Debut

Patrick Cantlay – 3rd appearance (2021, 2023)

Sam Burns – 2nd appearance (2023)

Who qualified for the US Ryder Cup team

Bradley himself was overlooked in 2023, a heartbreaking moment that was captured by the Netflix cameras.

The first six names were confirmed after the BMW Championship, where Europe’s Justin Rose was victorious.

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler leads the way, with more than double the number of points of the next man on the list – US Open champion JJ Spaun.

Reigning Olympic champion Xander Schauffele, who picked up two majors last season but has struggled for form in 2025, is back to offer experience alongside debutants Spaun and Russell Henley.

Harris English and Bryson DeChambeau were the other automatic qualifiers, and they have now been joined by Bradley’s chosen six.

When will the European team be confirmed?

Luke Donald will complete his line up after the European Masters which will finish on Sunday with his captain’s press conference scheduled for Monday.

Like Bradley, he has six captain’s selections who will join those who have already been confirmed after the conclusion of the European Ryder Cup race at the British Masters.

The six automatic spots have been taken by some familiar names, with FedEx Cup champion Tommy Fleetwood joining Masters winner McIlroy, Justin Rose, Tyrrell Hatton, and Robert MacIntyre.

2025 European Ryder Cup Team

Automatic qualifiers

Rory McIlroy – 8th appearance (2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2021, 2023)

Robert MacIntyre – 2nd appearance (2023)

Tommy Fleetwood – 4th appearance (2018, 2021, 2023)

Justin Rose – 7th appearance (2008, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2023)

Rasmus Hojgaard – Debut

Tyrrell Hatton – 4th appearance (2018, 2021, 2023)

All five of those players are returning after playing their part during the victory in Rome.

They were joined by Rasmus Hojgaard, who took the final qualifying place and effectively replaces his twin brother Nicolai in the team.

Shane Lowry, Jon Rahm, Ludvig Aberg and Viktor Hovland are considered locks to be picked by Donald, with the final two places up for debate.

Sepp Straka and Matt Fitzpatrick are the frontrunners, but Harry Hall, Matt Wallace and British Masters winner Alex Noren will hope to have done enough to make Donald think differently.

All eyes turn to Bethpage Black when the Ryder Cup begins September 26.