Fleetwood showed grace in defeat as Bradley celebrated his eighth PGA Tour victory, adding to his 2011 US PGA Championship title.
Tommy Fleetwood’s ongoing struggle to secure a PGA Tour win casts a spotlight on the intriguing prospect of a playing captain for the upcoming Ryder Cup.
Keegan Bradley’s dramatic victory over Fleetwood at the Travelers Championship last Sunday highlighted both issues. It marked Fleetwood’s sixth runner-up finish on the US circuit, a result he described as deeply painful.
This loss intensifies the debate surrounding Fleetwood’s potential return to the US Ryder Cup team for the September match against Europe at Bethpage.
Were the Ryder Cup next week, Bradley’s inclusion as a player would be undeniable. His performance warrants selection, regardless of the summer’s golfing events.
However, Bradley is the captain.
The question arises: whom might he omit to include himself? And is it feasible, in today’s landscape, to excel at both roles simultaneously?
These crucial questions could significantly impact the American team’s performance amidst the anticipated fervor of the Long Island event. Maintaining composure under immense pressure will be paramount.
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This dilemma emerged a year ago when the 39-year-old Bradley received the unexpected appointment to lead the American team.
The modern Ryder Cup far surpasses the scale of 1963, when Arnold Palmer was the last playing captain.
In that era, matches were played over three days, and Palmer’s participation, while successful, was less impactful than today’s event.
The contemporary Ryder Cup is a globally significant sporting spectacle. The captaincy demands immense commitment, often leading to controversy, and greatly influencing the outcome.
Playing is equally demanding. The combination seems nearly impossible, a notion challenged by Bradley’s appointment.
The PGA of America’s then-chief, Seth Waugh, stunned Bradley—previously overlooked for the 2023 team—by offering him the unprecedented role.
This remains a controversial choice, reflecting the scarcity of US captaincy candidates, especially with Tiger Woods deferring until 2027.
Trevor Immelman, commenting on CBS after Bradley’s recent victory, stated, “In my opinion, there’s no way you can be a captain today and play in the Ryder or Presidents Cup.”
He emphasizes the captain’s vast responsibilities, both pre-tournament and during the competition.
Immelman highlights the need for players to focus intensely, yet Bradley’s inclusion as a player is undeniable.
Immelman, former International team captain and current OWGR overseer, notes Bradley’s high ranking (seventh, with only five Americans ahead). Data Golf, incorporating all tours, places only four Americans above him.
Immelman concludes, “You can’t argue he’s not among the twelve best American golfers. Their situation is complicated; how can he not play?”
Bradley assures that a plan exists, involving heavy reliance on his assistants.
However, aside from Jim Furyk, the assistants lack extensive captaincy experience. This is far from ideal.
Meanwhile, Europe’s Luke Donald likely observes this uncertainty with the intention of capitalizing on it.
This year has seen a string of European victories on American soil, including wins by McIlroy, Aberg, Straka, Detry, and Hovland.
Fleetwood almost added to this list, leading until a late collapse at TPC River Highlands.
His late-game faltering, including a three-putt on the final green, allowed Bradley’s winning birdie.
The atmosphere mirrored the Ryder Cup’s intensity. The enthusiastic crowd and Bradley’s nerves of steel contributed to his victory.
His final putt solidified his Ryder Cup credentials. It was a heartbreaking conclusion for Fleetwood.
Securing victories is always challenging, but Fleetwood seemingly faces greater difficulty, given his undeniable ball-striking talent.
He boasts top-five finishes in all four majors, seven DP World Tour wins, yet this remains his closest US victory.
His putting, typically clinical for elite players, becomes tentative under pressure. He needs to overcome this to reach his full potential.
However, in Ryder Cup match play, he thrives. He secured impressive records in Paris (2018) and Rome (2021), even performing well at Whistling Straits (2021).
Donald will undoubtedly welcome his return, potentially renewing his successful partnership with McIlroy.
Fleetwood’s profile resembles that of Montgomerie and Westwood—players who excelled in Ryder Cup but whose individual major successes fell short of their potential.
The possibility of a Fleetwood-Bradley rematch at Bethpage is compelling. Despite Sunday’s loss, Fleetwood remains ranked higher than Bradley by Data Golf.
Bradley experienced away-win defeats in 2012 and 2014. This time, however, he’ll likely play and captain the US team, driven by strong motivation.
This scenario holds both inspiring and inhibiting potential. Should the latter prevail, Fleetwood and his teammates may capitalize.
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