Keegan Bradley is making progress in assembling his Ryder Cup team.
The U.S. Ryder Cup captain hosted a dinner for potential team members last week at the Truist Championship in Philadelphia. Notably, LIV Golf members were also included in the gathering.
Bradley revealed that he extended invitations to Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau. While DeChambeau faced travel challenges and couldn’t attend in person, he still participated virtually.
“We invited Brooks and Bryson, and they were in there on points, and they played on previous teams,” Bradley mentioned at Quail Hollow Club in North Carolina, via ESPN.
“It was great to have them there. This Ryder Cup and what comes with this, no one cares about what’s going on in this side PGA Tour-LIV [dispute]. We’re trying to put the best team together.”
Bradley sent out invitations to the top 20 golfers in the Ryder Cup points standings, as well as all players who were part of the last Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup teams. The top six players in the Ryder Cup standings after the BMW Championship will secure automatic berths on the team, with Bradley then making six captain’s picks to complete the squad.
Scottie Scheffler, currently the top-ranked golfer globally, leads the points list for the U.S. team. Xander Schauffele, Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, DeChambeau, and Russell Henley are also in line for automatic selections based on current standings.
For LIV Golf members, the only way to earn Ryder Cup points is through major championships, as events in the Saudi Arabian-backed league do not count. Koepka, currently positioned at No. 91 on the list, is the sole LIV Golf representative from the 2023 Ryder Cup team that lost to Europe in Rome.
Advertisement
Bradley might consider using captain’s picks on LIV Golf members, but he isn’t making any decisions just yet.
“It could mean there’s one LIV guy, two LIV guys, it doesn’t matter,” Bradley stated. “We’ll see how this year shakes out. It was really great to have them together with all the guys. It’s been a while since we’ve been able to do that.”
Currently, DeChambeau appears to be the only LIV Golf member with a realistic chance of qualifying automatically. Despite finishing T5 at the Masters last month, he will need strong showings at the remaining major championships to secure an automatic spot.
“Look, I’ve got to keep playing good golf and, hopefully, I can make it on points alone. That’s the goal,” DeChambeau expressed. “From everything I heard, [the dinner] was pretty inspirational, and I know the captain is going to be a great leader for the team, whoever he chooses and whoever makes the team. He’s going to do a great job at Bethpage.”
What about the Europeans?
The European team faces a similar qualifying process to the U.S. team. The top six players in the standings after the British Masters in August will automatically secure spots on the team, with captain Luke Donald then making his picks.
Advertisement
Rory McIlroy currently leads that race, with Shane Lowry, Rasmus Højgaard, Tyrrell Hatton, Sepp Straka, and Justin Rose also in contention for automatic selections.
Jon Rahm, a prominent European LIV Golf member, sits 29th in the standings and has featured in the last three European teams. While Rahm did not disclose whether Donald has indicated a captain’s pick for him, he hopes to qualify on merit.
“It’s his team,” Rahm remarked. “Hopefully, I can qualify and we don’t have to question it. I would like to think that personally I am [good enough], but it’s not up to me.”
The Ryder Cup is scheduled to take place at Bethpage Black in New York in September.