Former European Ryder Cup skipper to Keegan Bradley: "I do not in any shape or form think a captain can be a player"

Former European Ryder Cup captain Padraig Harrington believes there is no way Keegan Bradley can lead the US at Bethpage Black in September and also play as an individual. 

Bradley has always maintained he would never pick himself for the biennial contest despite being somewhat unfortunate to be overlooked by Zach Johnson when the matches were held in Italy in 2023. 

But it has already been suggested Bradley has done enough to warrant inclusion for this September's dust-up given his impressive and dramatic victory at the Travelers Championship. 

The win moved Bradley, 39, up to ninth in the US Ryder Cup standings and well clear of the likes of Sam Burns, Jordan Spieth, Brian Harman, Patrick Cantlay and Wyndham Clark. 

Former European skipper Harrington - who led the blue and gold at Whistling Straits in 2021 - has added his voice to the group who believe Bradley cannot do both. 

"Keegan is a player that the Europeans don't want to compete against," Harrington told SiriusXM PGA Tour radio. 

"He is not an easy person to compete against. Everything about him. He's a really tough competitor, even his twitching and mannerisms are not easy to deal with. 

"The shot he hit into 18 [at the Travelers Championship] was very ballsy. He hits the shots. 

"There's a lot of players that you could tee it up against and you wouldn't choose Keegan as one of them, he's just a good match player. [He's] gritty, tough and he's going to get it done. 

"Even if he's not feeling his best he's going to do it [and] you want him on your team. 

"Obviously, now, [he is] competition for the US team but he's the captain. Should he step down from captain and play?

"He's definitely in the 12 best players, there's no doubt about that. I don't think he can be captain and play, if that's what you're asking.

"The captaincy at the Ryder Cup is so much bigger a deal than anything."

Bradley has already made it clear that in the event he does decide to play or qualifies then he will lean on his team of vice captains. 

Jim Furyk led the US to a commanding victory over Harrington's Europe in 2021, while Brandt Snedeker, Kevin Kisner and Webb Simpson are respected figures in the locker room.

Bradley still has to appoint one more vice captain. 

It was speculated Tiger Woods could step in at short notice but it is understood the hall of famer wants to wait until 2027 to take the reins when the Ryder Cup heads to Adare Manor. 

Woods previously combined the roles at the 2019 Presidents Cup.

"We know the Presidents Cup and the Ryder Cup is not the same thing," Harrington said. 

"The stress levels for the captain at the Ryder Cup and the requirements, pressure and timing [and] the way it goes about - it's a much quicker event. 

"I do not in any shape or form think a captain can be a player."