Welcome! The place are you, you ask. I’m calling this the Weekend 9. Consider it as a spot to heat you up for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. We’ll have ideas. We’ll have suggestions. We’ll have tweets. However simply 9 in all, although typically perhaps extra and typically perhaps much less. As for who I’m? The paragraphs beneath inform among the story. I could be reached at nick.piastowski@golf.com.
Of all of the phrases Keegan Bradley mentioned Wednesday throughout his captain’s picks press convention — round 10,000, in response to the transcript — 4 struck me. Earlier than saying them, he paused. After saying them, he laughed.
“I’m glad it’s over.”
Was he being severe? Or was he being humorous? Did he like deciding on six People for subsequent month’s Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black? Or did he detest telling different fellow countrymen that they fell quick? On this case, all are doubtless true. As is that this: The choice is, in actual fact, over, which begs one other query:
How’d he do?
To me, three topics had been coated Wednesday. Let’s attempt to grade them.
Keegan Bradley didn’t decide Keegan Bradley
Why, in response to Bradley: “I grew up desirous to play Ryder Cups. I grew up desirous to struggle alongside these guys. It broke my coronary heart to not play. It actually did. You’re employed ceaselessly to make these groups, however in the end I used to be chosen to do a job. I used to be chosen to be the captain of this crew. My final aim to start out this factor was to be one of the best captain that I may very well be. That is how I felt like I might do that. If we bought up to now and I felt just like the crew was higher with me on it, I used to be going to try this. I used to be going to do no matter I believed was greatest for this crew. I do know one hundred pc for sure that that is the best selection, and these six guys, once more, performed so extremely coming down the stretch right here and made my determination lots simpler.”
Grade: Let’s name the choice a B-plus. Right here had been the opposite decisions:
Keegan Bradley bought robbed of his Ryder Cup dream. He’s constructed a brand new one
– He might have picked himself and continued to be captain. This one would’ve been a B. Say what you’ll about simply how necessary a captain is, there’s nonetheless a time dedication. Greater than doubtless, his vice captains would have stepped up. However deal with his personal sport would have doubtless suffered. Then once more, as GOLF’s Sean Zak wrote earlier this week, watching Keegan Bradley as taking part in captain would’ve been nice theater.
– He might have picked himself and delegated all of the captain’s obligations to a vice captain. This one would have been an A. It alleviates the taking part in focus concern. You’re additionally nonetheless the captain, although in title alone.
– He might have turned down the PGA of America’s supply to be captain. This one would have been a B, too, although it clearly would’ve needed to have been determined final 12 months. Whereas the possibility to guide the People is awfully particular, it additionally paused the dream to play. Right here, I’ll level you to a narrative from GOLF’s Dylan Dethier headlined: “Keegan Bradley bought robbed of his Ryder Cup dream. He’s constructed a brand new one,” and it may be learn right here.
– Ultimately, he selected Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Ben Griffin, Cameron Younger, Patrick Cantlay and Sam Burns. I like the concept it motivates them, with their ideas being: If he selected me over himself, I’ve to ship. It’s the protected play. In golf, that sort of factor could be appreciated.
The query is, who would Bradley have dropped from the gamers he picked? You possibly can argue anybody outdoors of Thomas, although it’s powerful. Does Bradley select himself over Morikawa or Cantlay, who every haven’t received this 12 months? Possibly, however Morikawa additionally is without doubt one of the greatest ball-strikers on the planet, and Cantlay is 5-2-1 in two Ryder Cup appearances (and 10-4 over three Presidents Cups). Does Bradley select himself over Griffin or Younger, each Ryder Cup newcomers? Possibly, however Griffin additionally has received twice this 12 months, and Younger has been one in every of golf’s hottest gamers over the previous month. What about Burns? I believe Bradley’s selection was right here, and he went with the PGA Tour’s chief this season in Strokes Gained: Placing.
Keegan Bradley additionally didn’t select Maverick McNealy, Chris Gotterup and others
Stated Bradley when requested about McNealy: “Very, very troublesome name to name Mav. Unbelievable child, performed properly all 12 months lengthy. I used to be very up entrance with the fellows that haven’t made the crew earlier than. You actually need to, generally, make the crew on factors in your first crew. It’s actually troublesome to get a decide in your first crew occasion. I made that very clear to him, and he nonetheless performed nice.
I performed with him a bunch of occasions this 12 months. I’m actually impressed together with his sport. I instructed him it’s OK to be indignant. I left these calls actually indignant most occasions. You should utilize this as gas. I mentioned, please be indignant with me and make the subsequent crew. Make [the] Presidents Cup crew. I used that as gas most of my profession, and I suggested Mav to do the identical factor. He made a fantastic run at making this crew, and in the end that was a very powerful determination.”
The highest-ranked U.S. Ryder Cup snub? Keegan Bradley gave him recommendation
Grade: B-plus, given his choices. I believe McNealy, Gotterup and Andrew Novak might make a Ryder Cup crew down the street, however the six gamers chosen are strong.
I do marvel, although, what the picks would have seemed like if Brooks Koepka, Jordan Spieth, Will Zalatoris, Max Homa, Patrick Reed, Tony Finau and Sahith Theegala had been among the many high 25 in factors.
