As soon as former two-time U.S. Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III heard last year that Keegan Bradley would be at the helm of Team USA at Bethpage Black this fall, he told Bradley he was going to be a playing captain.
“First thing I said to him,” Love told Golfweek earlier this year. “I hope he does it. He might need more assistants but he can do it. I told him to play one match a day.”
Bradley’s recent victory at the Travelers Championship has made that scenario a real possibility. He’s improved to No. 9 in the U.S. Ryder Cup point standings with the top six automatically qualifying for the team.
Could veteran American Ryder Cuppers Rickie Fowler or Jordan Spieth become a vice captain if Bradley needs another helping hand? The subject was broached on Tuesday to Fowler during his pre-tournament press conference ahead of the 2025 John Deere Classic in Silvis, Illinois, where Fowler is competing for the first time since 2010.
“Haven’t heard anything on that. Obviously I’ve loved all the team events I’ve been on and been a part of,” he said. “We’ll deal with that if it comes to that. I’m obviously happy to help out, but I know Keegan is working on trying to make his own team. He’s got some great guys at his side helping out. If they want me there, I would hope scheduling and everything would work out. It would be fun to be a part of. We’ll deal with that when it gets to it.”
Fowler, who was a captain’s pick in 2023 in Rome and has represented the Stars and Stripes five times, currently is languishing at No. 44 in the rankings. Jordan Spieth, who has been on the last five Ryder Cup teams, isn’t much better, sitting at No. 25. If one or both don’t make a late push, they would make great additions to Bradley’s back office and would be good prep for when both eventually get a turn as captain.
Bradley previously has announced 2018 U.S. Ryder Cup captain Jim Furyk, 2026 U.S. Presidents Cup captain Brandt Snedeker and Webb Simpson and Kevin Kisner as vice captains for Bethpage.
“If the other guys are saying we want you (to play) Keegan, you’ve got to do it and not worry about what the outside world thinks,” Love said. “From the way it’s gotten set up over the years, the machine behind the captain, he could do it.”
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