ATLANTA — Keegan Bradley spent a part of Monday handing out free Ryder Cup tickets to golfers at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, New York, the positioning of subsequent month’s match between america and Europe.
With one other spectacular 18 holes within the ultimate spherical of the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Membership on Sunday, Bradley may punch his personal Ryder Cup ticket — as a enjoying captain for the Individuals.
Bradley made birdies on the ultimate three holes at East Lake on Saturday to put up a 7-under 63 within the third spherical, leaving him in fourth place at 13 underneath, three strokes behind co-leaders Patrick Cantlay (64) and Tommy Fleetwood (67).
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Russell Henley carded a 1-under 69 for third at 14 underneath, and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is lurking in fifth after posting a 66 to get to 12 underneath.
Whereas Bradley described Saturday’s efficiency as maybe his “finest spherical of the yr,” he would not say the way it may have an effect on his choice to make use of considered one of his six captain’s selections on himself.
“It is only a heavy choice,” Bradley mentioned. “All of the picks are robust. Captain goes to be judged on who they choose. Fairly unusual factor to select your self. It is one thing that I have been occupied with for a very long time, and I simply wish to ensure we make the proper one.”
Scheffler, Henley, U.S. Open winner J.J. Spaun, Xander Schauffele, Harris English and LIV Golf League captain Bryson DeChambeau have already got certified for the U.S. workforce on factors.
Bradley will announce the ultimate six roster spots on the U.S. workforce Wednesday, and his choice appears to be getting harder with one spherical left within the FedEx Cup season.
“I do not know,” Bradley mentioned. “We’ll discover out tomorrow. I am both going to win or I am not, and we will know the picks. We’re fairly assured with the picks that we’ve got. Another day of golf to type of finalize this complete factor, and I can not wait. I am carried out with this complete course of. I need it over with both approach.”
Cantlay’s sturdy displaying at East Lake may need solidified his spot on the Ryder Cup. He hasn’t received on tour in three years, and he missed the lower in three of the 4 main championships this season. (He tied for thirty sixth on the Masters.) He was fifteenth in Ryder Cup factors coming into the week.
Cantlay was a vibrant spot for the U.S. workforce in its 16½-11½ loss within the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf and Nation Membership exterior Rome. He was 5-2-1 prior to now two Ryder Cups.
“It is all the time good to have your recreation form up on the finish of the yr,” Cantlay mentioned. “However like I mentioned, I am targeted 100% on this week, and we’ll fear concerning the Ryder Cup slightly later.”
Cantlay not too long ago began working with a placing coach for the primary time, and his new partnership with Phil Kenyon already is paying off. Cantlay leads the 30-man subject in strokes gained: method at 5.88 and is fifth in placing (3.05).
“I have been placing in loads of good work, and so it is good to see a few of that work beginning to repay,” Cantlay mentioned.
Whereas the FedEx Cup and $10 million are on the road for Sunday’s winner, there may be Ryder Cup penalties, as effectively.
Different golfers preventing for considered one of Bradley’s picks have fared effectively at East Lake to date. Cameron Younger (71) is sixth at 10 underneath, adopted by Ben Griffin (68) and Sam Burns (68), who’re tied for seventh. Justin Thomas (69) is tied for tenth at 8 underneath.
Collin Morikawa (70) and Maverick McNealy (69) are tied for sixteenth at 6 underneath.
“It is a actually unusual factor to type of ponder making the picks after which occupied with selecting your self,” Bradley mentioned. “It is ridiculous. It does not seem to be actuality typically.
“However we will do the most effective we are able to to make the proper choice, and it should be controversial to sure folks both approach. I am ready for that. I’m assured whichever choice I make, it is for the betterment of the workforce, and we’ll see.”
There hasn’t been a enjoying captain within the Ryder Cup since Arnold Palmer led the Individuals to a 23-9 rout at East Lake in 1963. Palmer, then 34, performed in every of the six classes and had a 4-2 report.
Bradley noticed Palmer’s Ryder Cup bag and different memorabilia in East Lake’s clubhouse when he registered for the Tour Championship. Palmer died in 2016 at age 87.
“It is fairly surreal taking a look at it,” Bradley mentioned. “I want he was alive and I might name him. If I had one factor, I want I might name Arnold and discuss to him as a result of I believe he’d have some nice recommendation for me.”
