Keegan Bradley Does NOT Pick Himself For US Ryder Cup Team

Keegan Bradley finalised the US Ryder Cup team and the headline news is that he did not pick himself.

Before announcing his picks, Bradley said: "It"s been the most incredible year of my life. The thing I have cherished the most has been the incredible support I have received and is something I will remember for the rest of my life.

"I decided a while ago that I wasn’t going to be playing. There was a period in the year when I was going to but these guys all stepped up and I am really happy with my team. I am glad all the speculation is over. I grew up wanting to play Ryder Cups and it broke my heart not to play but I was chosen to be captain and my goal is to be the best captain I can be."

The six men he chose are Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Ben Griffin, Cameron Young, Patrick Cantlay and Sam Burns.

And those picks join automatic qualifiers Scottie Scheffler, JJ Spaun, Xander Schauffele, Russell Henley, Harris English and Bryson DeChambeau.

The first player to be named was Thomas, winner of the RBC Heritage in 2025 and described by Bradley as the heartbeat of his team. It will be his fourth Ryder Cup appearance.

Thomas said: "Everybody is here for a reason and I would tell everybody just to be themselves, be ready and enjoy the experience. I love team matches. I have made some great friendships. You are playing for each other rather than for yourself."

Bradley’s second pick was Morikawa. Bradley said: "He brings to much to our team."

Morikawa, playing in his third Ryder Cup, said: "There’s always more pressure in a Ryder Cup but I consider it to be a privilege and is something we can use as a positive. You have to play great golf and you have to make putts. I have had one dominant win and one heavy defeat. It’s how you walk away from both that counts."

Next up was Griffin, of whom Bradley said: "He is a confident player who has burst onto the scene with 10 top 10s. We are really lucky to have him on the team."

Griffin said: "I could not have foreseen this four years ago. I appreciate the belief from Keegan and I am ready to go and win a lot of points at Bethpage. This is the biggest honour and getting the phone call was great. There were a lot of emotions and I am excited to have the belief of Keegan."

The fourth pick was Young, who finally broke his winless drought in 2025. Bradley said: "Cameron is a New Yorker who pounds the golf ball and has had nine top-12 finishes this season."

Young said: "We will have some support in New York, which is home for me. Going back there is going to be special. This is something that has been on my radar for a long time. It's hard to put into words what it means to me and my dad. I have been picturing this in my mind for a long time. Making this team is incredibly important to me."

Bradley’s fifth pick was Cantlay, of whom he said: "He has a great record in team events. Patrick was made for the Ryder Cup. This is where he thrives. He is a leader. When he speaks, people listen."

Cantlay said: "These team events give me some of my best memories from my entire career. Sharing the experience with my teammates means everything. We have all been impressed by Keegan’s passion and dedication to the job. He is giving us the best chance to win. It is easy to buy in to his captaincy. I will do whatever it takes to win for him."

And the final pick was Burns. Bradley said: "He is the best putter on the planet and has a fiercely competitive spirit. He played his best golf when it mattered most. I can’t wait to see him at Bethpage. He plays with his heart on his sleeve."

Burns said: "Being on these teams is the highest honour you can receive in this sport. I am so privileged and honoured to be part of this team. It will be an incredible week and I know we are going to have some incredible support in New York."

Bradley’s six picks:

Justin Thomas

The winner of two majors, Thomas had to rely on a captain’s pick two years ago and was one of the few American successes. He narrowly missed out on automatic selection, finishing seventh in the points table. 

Collin Morikawa

Looked like a shoo-in earlier in the year but has struggled in recent months and has battled to recover from the disappointment of losing the Arnold Palmer Invitational to Russell Henley way back in March. He has posted only two top-10s since and despite being ranked eighth in the world, has failed to contend since that crushing Bay Hill disappointment.

Cameron Young

Young finished 14th in the qualifying standings but his recent form has been encouraging and after a string of near-misses he finally won his first PGA Tour title this year. He a big hitter, is from New York and has the course record at Bethpage in a state championship.

Patrick Cantlay

Divides opinion and has not won since 2022. Has already played in two Ryder Cups, grabbing the headlines two years ago for his refusal to wear a team cap and then being involved in a verbal spat with Rory McIlroy. Finished second to Tommy Fleetwood at the Tour Championship, which was probably the performance that secured his place.

Sam Burns

The 29-year-old nearly won the US Open in June. A proven winner, he is a wonderful putter and is also a close friend and regular practice partner of Scottie Scheffler - expect to see them being paired together. A controversial pick as he only finished 16th in the qualifying table.

Ben Griffin

Has emerged as a truly world-class talent in 2025, reeling off top-10 finishes for fun as well as two good major finishes. One of his two victories this year came at the Zurich Classic, a pairs event using the same foursomes and fourball formats of the Ryder Cup.