Golf legend labels Keegan Bradley player captaincy idea "100% chaos" ahead of Ryder Cup

Sam Torrance believes it's "100% chaos" if Keegan Bradley decides to change to a player captaincy role at the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in New York. 

Torrance, 71, made his feelings be known about Bradley's possible change of tact ahead of the biennial dust-up with Europe during an interview with Lottoland. 

As it stands, Bradley looks on from the outside of the automatic six spots in the US Ryder Cup team in 10th position.

But the 2011 PGA champion has vaulted to a current seventh in the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR) off the back of landing an eighth PGA Tour title at the Travelers Championship last month. 

Many analysts and even fellow players consider Bradley should now decide to compete on the 12-man team himself. 

Earlier this week, the Telegraph confirmed both Bradley and European Ryder Cup skipper Luke Donald have signed a captain's agreement that would allow one of Bradley's vice-captains to act as a 'de facto captain' during a session that Bradley was competing in. 

Under Ryder Cup regulations, only the captain is able to speak with players and reveal information once a match is underway. 

But according to eight-time European Ryder Cup player and 2002 winning captain Torrance, the role of player-captain is not possible.

In the eyes of Torrance, there is a reason why late great Arnold Palmer was the last player-captain of a Ryder Cup in 1963.

"It's 100% chaos," Torrance told Lottoland. 

"I don't see it as even remotely possible to be a playing captain."

Torrance does concede, however, that Bradley should be playing on the team.

The Scot just thinks he needs to step away from the captaincy altogether and pass it completely over to one of his vice-captains, such as 2018 US Ryder Cup captain Jim Furyk. 

"I 100% think Keegan should be in the team," continued Torrance.

"But you you can't be making decisions halfway around a round while you're playing. 

"You have to remember, on Friday and Saturday at 12 noon, both days, you have to have your pairings in for the afternoon fourballs or foursomes, whichever they are. 

"You can't possibly do that if you're in a match with five holes to go and you're 3up. 'All right, I'll put myself in, I'm playing', and then you lose four of the last five holes. You'd be thinking, 'oh no, what have we done there?'

"No, it's too important a role. He's a fabulous player, I think he's number seven in the world, he should be in the team.

"I've heard rumours that maybe he'll pass the captaincy on to Jim Furyk. Then he can voice all his opinions in team meetings and everything. But there's just too much pressure, too much going on outside of playing for the captain. You can't do both."

Bradley will make his six captain's picks after the final counting event for qualification points at the BMW Championship on 17 August. 

It remains to be seen whether Bradley picks himself, but after his latest captain's agreement with Donald, it would surely seem inevitable. 

The Ryder Cup takes place at Bethpage in New York from 26-28 September. 

Europe are defending the trophy after their emphatic five-point win at Marco Simone in Rome in 2023.

Donald's team will look to win the Ryder Cup away from home for the first time in 13 years.