Keegan Bradley excludes himself from Team USA Ryder Cup selection

The American has been in superlative form in 2025, winning the Travellers Championship in June and collecting four other top ten finishes on tour. That victory at TPC River Highlands moved him to seventh on the world rankings.

As such, Bradley would have been forgiven - perhaps even encouraged - to select himself as the first playing captain in 62 years.

But it wasn't to be.

During a news conference at the PGA of America headquarters in Texas on Wednesday, Bradley announced his six captain's picks. Bradley selected Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Patrick Cantlay, Ben Griffin, Cameron Young and Sam Burns.

Scottie Scheffler, JJ Spaun, Xander Schauffele, Russell Henley, Harris English and Bryson DeChambeau had already qualified for the legendary team event.

"The last 48 hours, we had the team set, we weren't scrambling at all," Bradley told the press.

"This was a really tough decision. I will say, there was a point where I was playing. All these guys stepped up in a major way and played their way on to this team, and that's something that I'm really proud of, and something that I really wanted."

Bradley finished 11th in the US Ryder Cup standings this season and is the eighth-best American in the world rankings.

The 39-year-old has made two Ryder Cup appearances as a player - both on losing teams - in 2012 at Medinah and 2014 at Gleneagles.

This time around, Bradley is looking to change that.

"I grew up wanting to play Ryder Cups," Bradley continued.

"I grew up wanting to fight alongside these guys, and it broke my heart not to play. It really did because you work forever to make these teams, but ultimately, I was chosen to do a job. I was chosen to be the captain of this team, and my ultimate goal to start this whole thing was to be the best captain that I could be, and this is how I felt like I could do this."

European captain Luke Donald is expected to make his six picks on Monday. The 45th Ryder Cup tees off at the iconic Bethpage Black in New York on 26 September.