With his stunning win Sunday at the Travelers Championship, Keegan Bradley played his way into contention for an automatic spot on the Ryder Cup team that he captains.
The win also brought out a lot of chatter about how the 39-year-old will balance his United States captaincy role with the opportunity to play in his first Ryder Cup since 2012.
Even with the added wrinkle of several days of celebrating the Travelers’ win with his family in New England, Bradley remained confident he’s ready to set it all aside when he steps on the grass at this week’s Rocket Classic — thanks in part to staying true to his swing, regardless of where he’s playing or what’s happening around him.
“I think that what’s important with a golf swing for a player but especially a PGA TOUR player is to not try to make it something that isn’t you,” Bradley told reporters Wednesday. “I’ve owned my swing. I know what to do, I know the mistakes that I make when things are bad.
“I think over the years I’ve really learned to accept how my swing looks. I’ve got a weird setup, like my hands are really low, everyone thinks my clubs are super short. I’ve done a good job of owning that and that’s the best way to have me play well.”
It should also help that when he steps onto the course at Detroit Golf Club this week, his thoughts, finally, will not be on the Ryder Cup.
“For me,” Bradley said, “the only time I can escape the Ryder Cup thoughts are when I’m inside the ropes. … When I leave those ropes, like when I go this afternoon, I have some Ryder Cup stuff I have to do.
“As we get closer to the Ryder Cup, things are amping up certainly for sure, but every day we’re working. We’re on the chat with the vice captains. Now the team is really starting to take shape and we know a handful of guys that are pretty close to a mathematical lock on the team. We start thinking about partners and formats. Things are definitely amping up.”
The role of Ryder Cup captain is not a small one, but Bradley expressed confidence about his ability to juggle his duties as a captain and a player on the PGA Tour.
“But I’ve been doing a pretty good job this year of when it’s time to tee it up in the tournament of being a player first. Then when I leave there, I have to be the captain. I think one of the things I’ve managed well this year is once I’m inside those ropes, I’m a player.”
The Rocket Classic starts Thursday at Detroit Golf Club in Michigan.
–Field Level Media
