Controversial golf analyst names who should be US Ryder Cup captain (and it's not Tiger!)

Brandel Chamblee has had his say on who should succeed Keegan Bradley as the next captain of the United States Ryder Cup team. 

Despite threatening one of the greatest comebacks of all time, Bradley's dozen were defeated on home soil by Europe last September at Bethpage Black.

The inquest for the 39-year-old American after the humiliating 15-13 defeat was brutal but that didn't stop Bradley saying he wanted to right the wrongs next year. 

However, it appears the PGA of America won't grant his wish to lead the troops when the matches head to Adare Manor in Ireland next September. 

Tiger Woods confirmed before the Genesis Invitational last month that he has been offered the captaincy but wasn't sure he was going to be able to give the job his full focus.

Woods explained that he is extremely busy right now in his role as the chairman of the future competitions committee, charged with re-shaping the PGA Tour as we know it. 

"That's been driving me hours upon hours every day, trying to figure out if I can actually do our team, Team USA, and everyone involved in the Ryder Cup justice with my time," said Woods.

Associated Press reported last week that Woods, 50, has been given a "soft deadline" to decide whether he wants the captaincy before the 2026 Masters Tournament. 

But former PGA Tour winner turned Golf Channel analyst Chamblee believes the PGA of America should turn to another major winner. 

"I think the next captain should be Justin Leonard," told Dan on Golf. 

"Tiger's got plenty of time to be a captain. He should probably do it more than once.

"I think he's too busy with the governance of the PGA Tour, Charlie being at home, I think he wants to play a little on the PGA Tour Champions. 

"He's got bigger fish to fry right now than taking over the Ryder Cup."

Leonard played in the Ryder Cup three times. He made his debut at Valderrama in 1997 and was also part of the 2008 team that dominated at Valhalla. 

But he is best known for holing a birdie putt on the 17th hole at Brookline in 1999 to all but secure victory for the home side. 

Leonard, who also won the 1997 Open, also has some leadership experience having served as an assistant to Jim Furyk at the 2024 Presidents Cup in Canada.

"The right thing to do is make Justin Leonard the captain," Chamblee said. 

"With Justin, you tell me an American player – because we don't heroes in the Ryder Cup – that has hit a more memorable shot than Justin Leonard.

"He's handled himself with class, is really thoughtful. He comes closest in all of those metrics – tangibles and intangibles – to being Paul McGinley, to me.

"There's one clear choice for the next Ryder Cup captain because, clearly, Tiger Woods is not there yet. 

"If Tiger Woods was there, he'd get it in perpetuity, as long as he wants it. But I think he's too busy with the governance of the PGA Tour."

Should Woods reject the captaincy, there are plenty of candidates elsewhere.

Brandt Snedeker, Webb Simpson, Steve Stricker, Matt Kuchar, Stewart Cink, Fred Couples and the aforementioned Furyk have been touted. 

Meanwhile, Luke Donald is yet to announce whether he will continue as the European captain. 

Like Woods, Donald has also been given a soft deadline to decide before the first men's major of the year. 

Should Donald step aside, it is understood that Francesco Molinari will be named as his successor. 

The Italian has served as a vice-captain twice and his brother, Edoardo, is Europe's status guru.