Fleetwood’s stumble gives US Bradley-sized Ryder Cup headache

Wednesday, 25 June 2025 00:02 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

As Tommy Fleetwood continues to wrestle with how to get over the winning line on the PGA Tour, American golf is trying to fathom how having a playing captain might work at this year’s Ryder Cup.

Both issues were brought into sharp focus by Keegan Bradley’s dramatic victory over Fleetwood at the Travellers Championship in Connecticut last Sunday. It was the Englishman’s sixth runner-up finish on the US-based circuit and this one “hurts”. A lot.

Fleetwood stumbled on the home stretch to let in his tall, broad-shouldered American opponent for a win that emphasises a growing feeling that he should return to the US Ryder Cup playing roster for this September’s match against Europe at Bethpage.

If the contest was next week, Bradley’s inclusion as a player would be a no brainer. Indeed, even with high golfing summer to come, he has already done enough to warrant selection from his captain this autumn.

Ah. He is the captain.

Who might he leave out if he has to pick himself? And is it possible in the modern era to do both jobs well enough to be successful at both?

They are huge questions that could easily undermine the American effort amid an expected cacophony on Long Island in New York. Cool heads will be required amid a pressure packed and passionately partisan din.

This was always a potential dilemma from the moment, a year ago, that the 39-year-old became a shock selection to lead America’s quest to regain that precious pot of gold.

And the Ryder Cup is a much bigger entity than it was in 1963 when Arnold Palmer was the last playing captain.