Jim Furyk told to leave Keegan Bradley off his Presidents Cup team despite his BMW Championship win

Jim Furyk, the captain of the U.S. Presidents Cup team, faces a significant decision as he prepares to select six additional players to join the squad. One of the names creating a buzz is Keegan Bradley, who has recently made headlines with his impressive performance at the BMW Championship, the second event in the PGA Tour’s playoff series.

 

Bradley’s outstanding play at Castle Pines Golf Club, where he delivered a flawless performance to secure victory, has elevated him into the top 30 of the FedEx Cup standings. This positions him as a contender for one of golf’s most coveted prizes, the FedEx Cup Championship, which will be decided at East Lake. Bradley’s success in the BMW Championship not only bolsters his FedEx Cup chances but also casts a spotlight on him as a potential candidate for Furyk’s Presidents Cup team.

 

Currently, six players have automatically qualified for the U.S. team based on their performance: Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa, Wyndham Clark, Patrick Cantlay, and Sahith Theegala. Bradley, however, did not secure an automatic spot and finds himself just outside the qualifying positions. Despite his recent victory, his place on the team is not guaranteed, and it remains to be seen whether Furyk will choose him as one of the six captain’s picks.

 

Golf Channel pundit Ryan Lavner has stirred the conversation by advising Furyk to consider overlooking Bradley for one of the captain’s picks. On the Golf Channel Podcast, Lavner expressed his opinion that despite Bradley’s recent triumph, there are reservations about his overall consistency. “Keegan Bradley – by and large – had not done anything in three months and then pops up, says he got a swing feel in the Pro-Am and basically flushed it for the rest of the week,” Lavner noted. This suggests that Bradley’s recent form might not be enough to outweigh his previous performances or the broader context of his recent form.

 

Lavner acknowledged the difficulty of such a decision, recognizing that it would be challenging for Furyk and his assistant captains to leave Bradley out of the lineup, particularly given his stature and recent success. “Personally, if I were Jim Furyk, I would pass Keegan Bradley over for a pick. I know how difficult that would be to do, and I know how awkward that would be to do because Keegan Bradley would be in that team room knowing he was passed over by Jim Furyk and the other assistant captains for one of the six wildcard picks,” Lavner explained.

 

Despite his advice to overlook Bradley, Lavner also indicated that he expects Bradley to ultimately be selected for the team. “I expect him to get a pick and play on this team. I would expect him at this point. It’s really hard to leave off the 11th-ranked player in the world,” Lavner stated. He added that it would be a significant oversight to exclude Bradley, particularly when other potential picks are not in particularly strong form.

 

Bradley himself has been cautious about his expectations regarding the Presidents Cup. After his victory at Castle Pines, he was asked about his chances for selection. “I’m happy to do whatever, play whatever role they want me to play,” Bradley responded. He acknowledged that his status as a future Ryder Cup captain might influence perceptions of his candidacy. “I think being the Ryder Cup captain has put me into this category of sort of player when they haven’t really had a Ryder Cup captain that’s been playing full-time on the Tour,” he added.

 

Bradley’s comments reflect his awareness of the potential impact of his recent performance on the selection process. “One of my goals was to make that Presidents Cup team. So we’ll see. I hope I didn’t throw a huge wrench in everybody’s plans, but I’m proud to be in consideration,” he said.

 

Furyk is expected to face criticism regardless of his choice, given the high stakes and scrutiny associated with the team selection. The U.S. team has a strong record in the Presidents Cup, having not lost since 1998, and Furyk will be looking to maintain this dominance. The final decision on the team will come down to balancing recent form, overall performance, and strategic considerations to ensure a competitive and cohesive squad for the upcoming event in Montreal.