Golf analyst calls for the man Keegan Bradley flubbed to replace him as captain

Golf analyst Brandel Chamblee believes Justin Leonard, the man Keegan Bradley botched in his Opening Ceremony speech last Wednesday, should replace him as captain on the 2027 US Ryder Cup team. 

As it stands with the bookies, Bradley is a 2/1 favourite for a shot at redemption at Adare Manor, Ireland, in two years time at the Ryder Cup.

Bradley's Team USA endured a shocking first two days at the 2025 Ryder Cup as they fell seven points behind Europe heading into Sunday. 

Despite a valiant fightback, which looked not dissimilar to what Europe produced at Medinah in 2012, the hosts were beaten by two points. 

Luke Donald's Europe became the first away team to win a Ryder Cup match in 13 years since Medinah. 

Chamblee thinks the PGA of America should now turn to the man Bradley was actually trying to say during his opening speech gaffe when reflecting on his first Ryder Cup experience at Brookline in 1999.

Instead of saying Justin Leonard, he actually said Justin Rose. 

Speaking on Live From following the action at Bethpage, Chamblee claims to be baffled why Leonard - or Fred Couples for that matter - have not yet had a chance to skipper the stars and stripes at the Ryder Cup. 

"Their Team Cup is an event which is used to prepare for the Ryder Cup, to test captains, vice captains, players, pairings and begin a message to get the players ready to play in the Ryder Cup," said Chamblee, a one-time PGA Tour winner. 

"I don’t know if the Presidents Cup is anything close to that. If it were, how has Fred Couples never been named the Ryder Cup captain, for crying out loud? Tell me how.

"How has Justin Leonard never been named the Ryder Cup captain? Tell me the most important putt in the history of the Ryder Cup from the USA and tell me it’s not his putt."

Leonard, 53, has represented his nation three times at the Ryder Cup (1997, 1999 and 2008).

He won 12 times on the PGA Tour with his standout victory a sole major title at the 1997 Open. 

Chamblee added: 

"Justin Leonard to me in terms of emotional intelligence, humbleness, thoughtfulness, attention to detail. To me he is a budding Luke Donald or Paul McGinley and has an extraordinary record.

"I said how in the heck are you not the Ryder Cup captain. Look at the players we have picked and, no disrespect but Keegan Bradley is full of passion and everyone can rally round him. I get that. But he has played in just two Ryder Cups in his career.

"If you look at the last 10 Ryder Cup captains for the US and they have played an average of five. A lot more experience.

"I look at Justin and again Fred Couples not being the Ryder Cup captain blows my mind. Justin Leonard should be the Ryder Cup captain next go around if it’s not Fred Couples."

As it stands with the bookies, Leonard is not even priced up in the top seven names in the market, so you could be looking at a decent bit of value if Chamblee is bang on the money here. 

Tiger Woods is priced up fourth in the betting market at odds of 5/1, but we think he should steer well clear of the captaincy right now. 

Our choice is Webb Simpson, who is available at odds of 4/1 second favourite alongside Brandt Snedeker at the moment. 

We also think Donald will continue in the hotseat for Europe, as he now has a chance to become the first ever captain in history to win three straight Ryder Cup contests.

Donald currently shares the record with Tony Jacklin for two wins in a row after his efforts in New York. 

Jacklin had achieved the feat in 1989. 

Donald is a warm 6/4 favourite to remain European captain in 2027.

Rose is next up in the betting market for Europe at odds of 9/2.

Sir Nick Faldo, Sandy Lyle, Ian Woosnam and Sam Torrance were all in agreement last month that Rose was the right man to replace Donald. 

But maybe after what they witnessed at Bethpage last week, they'll be prepared to wait for 2029 to give Rose the armband.