Keegan Bradley Ryder Cup decision: Follow live updates as US skipper names his captain's picks

That's all from Keegan Bradley.

And with that, we'll end our live coverage. 

The big news is that Bradley has decided not to play in the 2025 Ryder Cup. 

Instead, Bradley has selected Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Ben Griffin, Cameron Young, Patrick Cantlay and Sam Burns. 

Keegan Bradley describes his year as 'strange'.

"I've been really surprised at the attention this has gotten," he says. 

"I understand the weight and the history but I was really focused on being the captain the whole year.

"I never really considered playing until after Travelers. I was interested in being the best captain I could be. 

"I felt like really comfortable with the guys and that I feel like I can best the serve the team this way. I don't care if I play or don't play as long as we win on Sunday.

"This is the decision we made. it's strange that it got this much hype. The Ryder Cup is a big deal apparently."

US President Donald Trump previously called for Keegan Bradley to pick himself. 

Bradley says hearing those comments were 'surreal'. 

"I really appreciate, Mr President, I hope you're not disappointed," says Bradley. 

"We look forward to seeing you at the Ryder Cup."

Several big names missed out. 

Jordan Spieth and Brooks Koepka were essentially relying on their reputations. 

Spieth started the season late owing to surgery on his wrist, whilst Koepka was abject in the majors. 

Former Open champion Brian Harman has also been overlooked, presumably because he is not considered a big enough hitter for Bethpage Black. 

Rickie Fowler and Wyndham Clark will also be watching the action unfold from their living rooms. 

Bradley says the toughest decision wasn't on whether to play but on which players to leave out. 

The captain said calling Maverick McNealy to let him know he didn't make it was particularly difficult. 

Bradley says he told McNealy that it was 'okay to be angry' at being left out. 

But he urged the golfer to use it as motivation to make future teams. 

Keegan Bradley received a crushing phone call from Zach Johnson before the 2023 Ryder Cup matches in Rome.

The Netflix cameras caught his despair. He thought he had done enough to be included in the team. 

But, he says, the disappointed players handled their rejections 'in a really friendly way'. 

"That meant a lot me," he said. 

Keegan Bradley says he grew up wanting to play in Ryder Cups and there was a point this year that he believed he would be playing. 

But his six captain's picks, he says, stepped up and made his decision easier. 

"I was chosen to do a job and be a captain for this team and my ultimate goal was to be the best captain I could be. This is how I felt I could do this.

"If it got to the point where it felt the team was better with me on it I was going to do that. I know 100% for certain this was the right choice.

"These six guys played so incredibly coming down the stretch here and made my job so much easier."

Keegan Bradley is asked about Rory McIlroy's previous comments that it was impossible for the 39-year-old to be a playing captain. 

"I'm not sure how he would know, nobody has ever done it," Bradley says.

"I said through this process over and over that I was always going to do what was best for this team. I 100 per cent believe I have made the right choice."

Despite reports to the contrary, Keegan Bradley says his decision was made 'a while ago' and the team was set at least 48 hours ago. 

"I'm really happy with these six players," he says. "I'm glad it's over."

Keegan Bradley will take a few questions from the assembled media. 

Wow. Sam Burns gets the sixth and final pick. 

Keegan Bradley has decided not to be a playing captain at the 2025 Ryder Cup. 

"I can't wait to see him out there in front of those fans," says Bradley. 

"He plays with his heart on his sleeve." 

Patrick Cantlay did not have his very best form in 2025, missing the cut in three of the four majors. 

But the American hit form at the right time over the last two months, though, and has an impeccable record in team events. 

"Patrick Cantlay was born for the Ryder Cup," says Bradley. 

Cameron Young gets the nod! 

Young finally broke through on the PGA Tour at the Wyndham Championship. 

The New Yorker will be a very popular figure at Bethpage Black. 

The in-form Ben Griffin receives the third pick from Bradley. 

The 29-year-old had a splendid season on the PGA Tour, winning twice. 

Griffin will be a rookie at the 2025 Ryder Cup. 

Collin Morikawa receives the second pick from captain Bradley. 

Keegan Bradley has started naming his captain's picks. 

As expected, Justin Thomas is the first name read out... 

Keegan Bradley is discussing his six automatic qualifiers first. 

A reminder, those are Scottie Scheffler, JJ Spaun, Xander Schauffele, Russell Henley, Harris English and Bryson DeChambeau. 

Keegan Bradley is in the room, ready to make his long-awaited announcement. 

Via X/JeffKolbFOX4

Keegan Bradley will announce his six captain's picks in eight minutes....

Keegan Bradley has arguably produced his best form at the right time. 

A victory at the signature Travelers Championship in June left fans, analysts and even PGA Tour golfers in absolutely no doubt that he is still among the elite. 

But does he need to play?

That's up for debate, given the strength of Team USA. 

If Bradley selects himself, that would mean bad news for Ben Griffin or Cameron Young. 

Griffin would be a Ryder Cup rookie - but would make his debut off the back of a splendid season that saw him win twice and finish two top-10 finishes in the majors. 

Young finally broke through on the PGA Tour at the Wyndham Championship and, importantly, is one of the world's biggest hitters off the tee. 

Does Bradley really want to risk the 'we told you so' narrative? 

Over the last few weeks, several notable figures in the golf world have weighed in on Bradley's decision and what they would have done if they faced the same circumstances. 

Sir Nick Faldo, Sam Torrance, Ian Woosnam and Sandy Lyle told reporters before the British Masters that Bradley would be making a huge mistake. 

Tom Watson has become the latest high-profile figure to offer his thoughts, telling The Times of London: "I could not have been a player-captain and the reason very simply is the scheduling, because the captain has to have his pairings in for the afternoon matches by 11am.

"The last two morning matches are going on for sure and you want to have the latitude to say this player is not playing well. 

"For instance, in 1993, Paul Azinger got blown out in his first match and I thought, 'I'm going to sit Paul and let him recoup'. 

"I had to make that decision, and if I was playing in a match, what a huge distraction that would have been. You can't do it. You can't be both."

Whatever Keegan Bradley decides to do, Team USA will head to Bethpage Black as heavy favourites to win back the Cup. 

No side has won in hostile territory since 2012 when the Europeans - led by Jose Maria Olazabal - mounted a remarkable comeback on the final day. 

Team Europe trailed by four points going into the Sunday singles, but won eight matches on the final day to secure a remarkable 14½-13½ win. 

Ryder Cup 2025 odds

USA 4/5

Draw 11/8

Europe 11/1 

Via Betfair

Keegan Bradley arguably has a bigger headache than his European counterpart Luke Donald. 

Donald will name his captain's picks on 1 September, following the conclusion of the Omega European Masters. 

The qualification period for the European team ended last week, with Rasmus Hojgaard taking sixth and final spot ahead of Shane Lowry. 

Rasmus joins Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood, Robert MacIntyre and Tyrrell Hatton in the squad. 

Donald is expected to name Lowry, Jon Rahm, Viktor Hovland, Ludvig Aberg, Matthew Fitzpatrick and Sepp Straka as his captain's picks. 

Bradley has no shortage of options. 

For a more detailed look, read more from our Keith Jackson.