Keegan Bradley was sent a clear message by the PGA of America on who to pick for the Ryder Cup, says Rex Hoggard.
The Ryder Cup fast approaches, and Team USA’s Keegan Bradley has tough decisions to make on who to pick for the home team. Only a few events remain before Bradley has to name his captain’s picks for New York.
Unlike Europe, whose 12 players are virtually set in stone, there is a long list of names that could be picked for America.
World number one Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele and JJ Spaun are already qualified, and Bryson DeChambeau has already been told he’s in. Beyond that, it’s virtually anyone’s game. But analyst Rex Hoggard believes the PGA of America has sent a message to Bradley on who they want him to select.
Rex Hoggard believes the PGA of America wants Keegan Bradley to pick Ryder Cup rookies
Team USA were humiliated by Europe at the last Ryder Cup. Something significant had to change in response, so the PGA of America made a surprise selection for captain in Bradley.
Hoggard said that in making Bradley captain, the PGA made a clear indication of how they want Bradley to pick his team.
Speaking on the Golf Channel, he said, “The argument can be made that you already have a very young team, and you’re going to start making picks outside the norm. That would be players who haven’t played in a long time, like Keegan himself, or players who haven’t played at all.
“It’s going to be an interesting conversation, because I’m not quite sure I would lean towards veterans at this time. It’s not as though the American veterans have done all that well in recent history. Maybe some new blood is what you want.
“I think that’s what the PGA of America wanted. I don’t think you have to read between the lines too much. When you look at why they decided to make Keegan Bradley the captain, he was not in line as recently as two and a half years ago.
“We were not having this conversation until they made him the Ryder Cup captain. I think the PGA of America have made it clear they want him to think outside the box and break the mould.”
Beyond deciding whether Bradley should make himself playing captain, he has a big decision to make, and plenty of rookies to choose from.
The Ryder Cup rookies Keegan Bradley could take to New York
The automatic qualification places are stacked with Ryder Cup rookies going into the BMW Championship. U.S. Open winner Spaun headlines them. He’s having the season of his life, and just missed out to the St. Jude Championship winner Justin Rose in the playoffs.
Russell Henley is another rookie who looks certain to qualify for the team. He won the Arnold Palmer Invitational and has nine top-10 finishes this season.
Looking to battle his way into automatic qualification is Ben Griffin, who like Spaun is having a breakout year. He won the Zurich Classic, the Charles Schwab Challenge, and has two top-10 finishes in majors this year.
Since Bradley said that no one can expect to make the Ryder Cup team if they are outside the top six, it’s fair to look a little further down the standings as Chris Gotterup.
He beat Rory McIlroy to the Genesis Scottish Open Championship and finished third at The Open. Strong form in the next two weeks could bring him into contention.
That’s also the case for Cameron Young, who is focused solely on the Ryder Cup now he’s won his first PGA Tour event, and Andrew Novak, who is showing form to end the season.
The list of potential rookies is long, and expect a host of fresh faces on the American Ryder Cup team at Bethpage Black.