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With the FedEx Cup playoffs wrapped and the six automatic qualifiers locked in, all eyes turned to Keegan Bradley for the final piece of Team USA’s Ryder Cup roster. On Wednesday morning, the suspense ended.
Bradley announced his six captain’s picks for the Bethpage Black battle and confirmed he would not be one of them.
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“I’m glad it’s over,” Bradley stated at the press conference in Frisco, Texas. “It was a very tough decision. I trust these six guys completely.”
Bradley’s six picks include Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Ben Griffin, Cameron Young, Patrick Cantlay, and Sam Burns, whose selection had already been reported earlier this week.
But the biggest surprise wasn’t who made the team. It was who didn’t.
Despite finishing 11th in the Ryder Cup standings and winning the Travelers Championship in June, Bradley chose to stay in the captain’s role.
Many, including President Donald Trump, had publicly urged him to pick himself, citing his form and Northeastern roots. Bradley, however, opted for leadership over legacy.
His decision means the record still stands, Arnold Palmer remains the last American to serve as a playing captain, doing so in 1963 at East Lake.
Breaking down Bradley’s six picks
- Justin Thomas: Thomas, ranked No. 7 in the Ryder Cup standings, leads the captain’s picks with experience. A three-time Ryder Cup veteran, he boasts a formidable 6–2–1 record in the event and returned to form this season with a win at the RBC Heritage in April. Thomas also posted eight top-10 finishes.
- Collin Morikawa: Next up is Collin Morikawa, sitting at No. 8. The two-time major champion has become a Ryder Cup regular, with a 4–2–1 record across two appearances. Morikawa was on full display this season, highlighted by a runner-up finish at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and a top-10 showing at The Players Championship.
- Ben Griffin: Griffin, ranked No. 9, earns his first Ryder Cup nod after a breakout season. He captured wins at the Zurich Classic and the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial, and added nine top-10 finishes to his resume. Griffin also impressed with a T9 at the PGA Championship, showcasing his ability to perform on big stages.
- Cameron Young: Young, ranked No. 14, finally broke through with his maiden PGA Tour win at the Wyndham Championship in August. He followed that with three top-11 finishes during the FedEx Cup Playoffs, proving his momentum is peaking at the right time.
- Patrick Cantlay: Ranked No. 15, rounds out the veteran presence among the picks. Though winless in 2025, Cantlay posted five top-10 finishes and remains one of the most reliable match-play performers with a Ryder Cup record of 5–2–1.
- Sam Burns: Burns, ranked No. 16, secures his second Ryder Cup appearance after a season defined by putting brilliance. Burns led the Tour in Strokes Gained: Putting and capped off the playoffs with a T4 at the BMW Championship and a T7 at East Lake. He went 1–2–0 in Rome in 2023.
These six join the automatic qualifiers, Scottie Scheffler, J.J. Spaun, Xander Schauffele, Russell Henley, Harris English and Bryson DeChambeau.
With the Ryder Cup set to tee off Sept. 26-28, Team USA now has its 12. And Bradley, from the captain’s seat, will be leading every step of the way.
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