There are scant scenarios where debate would swirl about a Ryder Cup captain picking one of the world’s most in-form players as a wildcard.
Usually it is a no-brainer. But Keegan Bradley finds himself right in the middle of a rare conundrum with the biennial contest between the United States and Europe looming.
Following an outstanding run of form, the US captain has played himself into contention for the 12-strong team to compete at Bethpage Black in late September.
There has not been a playing captain at the Ryder Cup since Arnold Palmer led the US team in 1963, at a time when the event was not the global behemoth it has become.
But a strong start at this week’s Open Championship has further underlined 39-year-old Bradley’s credentials.
“I’ve been playing some pretty good golf – but so have a lot of other Americans,” Bradley said in an interview, external published on the Ryder Cup website this week.
“If I was sitting here without being captain then making this team would be my number one goal – that doesn’t change with me being captain.
“I would be sitting here thinking ‘I’m right there and have a great chance of making the team’.”
The world number seven is clearly feeling uneasy about the situation and has been eager to avoid discussing the hypothetical at Royal Portrush.
The awkwardness of picking himself as a wildcard in New York might end up being redundant.
Bradley still could qualify automatically as one of the six leading Americans – especially if he earns a high finish in the final major of the year that is weighted to carry more ranking points.
After winning the Travelers Championship on the PGA Tour last month, Bradley moved up to ninth in the US Ryder Cup qualification standings.
The top six will automatically go into the team, with another half dozen picked by the captain.
“Nothing about picking whoever it is is going to be easy,” said Bradley, whose sole major victory came when he won the 2011 US PGA Championship.
“If I get to that position [of finishing outside the top six] and I feel like I’m going to help the team, then I’ll consider playing.
“But I get asked that question 10 times a day and I don’t really have an answer.”
