Rickie Fowler reveals two key areas of game that will determine Ryder Cup pick fate

Rickie Fowler believes two key areas of the game will play a huge role in the six players Keegan Bradley chooses to join his 2025 US Ryder Cup team.

Fowler, 36, was pressed for comment about the Ryder Cup by reporters ahead of this week's BMW Championship at Caves Valley GC in Maryland, which is the second last event before Bradley makes his six captain's picks. 

Unless Fowler goes on to win this week and plays well again next week, he is highly likely to miss out on playing any part in Bradley's team in New York from 26-28 September.

That's because he's currently well down the US Ryder Cup team points race at 37th. 

Fowler, at 48th in the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup standings entering the penultimate event of the season, also needs a big finish this week in order to even advance to the 30-man Tour Championship at East Lake next week.

But as someone who has played in five Ryder Cups previously, along with three Presidents Cups, Fowler is well judged to offer insight and analysis into what will likely be going through the head of captain Bradley right now. 

Fowler believes two key areas of the game in driving and putting will play a major factor in who Bradley ultimately sides with. 

Long, accurate drivers will likely have a huge advantage when it comes to Bradley's picks, certainly in the eyes of Fowler.

Bethpage Black is likely going to play to just short of 7,500 yards, and the rough is likely to be down to favour the bigger hitters. 

If they happen to be solid putters too, then that will likely do their chances no harm. 

Fowler would recommend Bradley has his head in the strokes-gained driving and putting categories over the next two weeks. 

"Obviously you want guys that are playing well or are trending that way," said Fowler.

"I mean, two big things at Bethpage, obviously you'd like to look at all the stats and all the guys being top in those categories, but I feel like driving the ball well is something that is very beneficial or needed at Bethpage, and obviously putting when it comes to match play. 

"To me those are the two areas I feel like seeing how guys are doing in those spots -- I can't remember all the guys that are necessarily in the mix of all that, but current form, but if you're diving into it, I think the driving and the putting are probably the two biggest parts for me that I would look at for a place like Bethpage."

As it stands, three players are already locked in Bradley's side.

They are Scottie Scheffler, JJ Spaun and Xander Schauffele.

The same applies on Luke Donald's European team, with Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood all safely through. 

Donald is delighted with that outcome. 

Three more players on both teams will make up the automatic six, and then the captains will get six picks each. 

Bradley will make his decision after the Tour Championship in two weeks time. 

There have been calls from a lot of players for Bradley to pick himself on the team.

Patrick Cantlay is certainly one American who considers Bradley should pick himself. 

And Fowler is very much in agreement. 

"Yeah, I would pick him too," Fowler said. 

"I think it would be hard to find really any or many Americans that would argue that point. We'll see. 

"I know he's maybe getting to the area of the 10, 11 number on points of where he may think, like, is this a spot where I should not pick myself. I feel like a lot of times there's really only one or two that maybe fluctuate based off of people that were maybe inside the top 12 on points that maybe don't get picked.

"I don't think you're going to find any or many Americans that are going to argue that he shouldn't be on the team."

Whether that happens remains to be seen. 

Bradley is currently ranked 10th in the US Ryder Cup team standings. 

Scroll below to check out the current top 20 in the US Ryder Cup team race...

Qualifcation on the European Ryder Cup team ends after the Betfred British Masters at the end of the month. 

Donald will then announce his picks after the action at The Belfry, the record four-time Ryder Cup venue. 

Here's a look at the European standings. 

GolfMagic has predicted the Ryder Cup teams