Bradley is in good nick. — Reuters
KEEGAN Bradley’s upsurge in form has caused an unexpected headache for US Presidents Cup captain Jim Furyk.
The 38-year-old had been named as Furyk’s non-playing vice-captain for the biennial contest against the International Team later this month.
But after his impressive victory at the BMW Championship in Colorado last Sunday, the pair have tentatively began discussing whether Bradley, who is also the US Ryder Cup captain, should compete as a player.
“I’ve spoken to him a little bit. We’re going to chat a little more as the week goes on,” said Bradley, who was in contention for the FedEx Cup title in the Tour Championship at East Lake, Georgia, the season finale.
“I want to do what’s best for the team. I truly, truly mean that. If what’s best for the team is for me to play, then I want to play,” he said.
“If what’s best is for me to be the vice-captain and there’s better pairings, then I’m happy to do that,” added Bradley, whose win last Sunday was his seventh on the PGA Tour.
Bradley, who will captain the US against Europe at Bethpage in New York next year, said he has learnt plenty from Furyk, the 2018 Ryder Cup captain, about the role.
“Jim has been an incredible leader. I’ve learned so much from him already. He is a guy that when I first came out on Tour, he was a guy that I really looked up to,” he said.
“To be able to be around him and sort of hear his insight, just a few of the little things that he’s told me, has really, really helped and I think will help my captaincy at Bethpage too.”
The 2011 PGA Championship winner said that he can see both pros and cons in playing, or being purely vice-captain, in the Presidents Cup at Royal Montreal in Canada.
“I think certainly being a vice-captain would help me being a captain at Bethpage because when you’re playing, your mentality changes a bit,” he said.
“You’re more stressed out. You’re thinking about, geez, I’ve got the alternate-shot hole, I’ve got the tough drive. So, there’s other things on your mind.
“But also being inside the ropes with these guys in the battle, in the heat, reminding myself how tough this is, and if a situation arises where I am playing at Bethpage, playing this, playing at the Presidents Cup would certainly help.
“Whatever happens, I’m going to have to figure out how to make the best of it,” he said.
Bradley had qualified for the top-50 event at Castle Pines last week as the 50th ranked player in the FedEx Cup standings.
But he came into the Tour Championship fourth in the standings and in with a chance of over-taking leader and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler.
“It’s so amazing how quick your year can change, how golf can change. I have such an amazing opportunity here to do something really special and something that I’ve never done in my career,” he said.
