Ryder Cup: Who is in contention for Keegan Bradley's wildcards?

Keegan Bradley will announce his six captain’s picks for the Ryder Cup on Wednesday, but who are the contenders for Team USA?

Half of Bradley’s team was confirmed after the qualifying process concluded at the BMW Championship earlier this month, with world No 1 Scottie Scheffler topping the standings by a considerable distance.

The World No. 1, and double major winner this year, will be joined at Bethpage by JJ Spaun, Xander Schauffele, Russell Henley, Harris English and Bryson DeChambeau.

The captain’s picks are always the subject of intense scrutiny before, during and after every Ryder Cup, and Bradley has several tough decisions to make before he settles on his final dozen.

The biggest decision facing Bradley is whether or not to stay on as captain if he picks himself for next month’s showdown against holders Europe in New York.

He could be the first player-captain at the Ryder Cup since Arnold Palmer in 1963, although the likes of Rory McIlroy, Sam Torrance and Sir Nick Faldo have cast doubts on Bradley’s ability to take on such a pivotal dual role.

As Bradley ponders his options, GolfMagic takes a look at the likely names on his shortlist:

Justin Thomas

JT is a lock for the US team, based on his previous Ryder Cup experience and his much-improved form in 2025. The 32-year-old began the year with three top-10 finishes in six events to establish himself in the world’s top 10.

He then ended a three-year winless run with victory at the RBC Heritage in April, although his major form dipped with missed cuts at both the PGA Championship and US Open.

Thomas had a consistent, if unspectacular July, but his game looked in good order in the season-ending Tour Championship, finishing in a tie for seventh place at East Lake.

He can look forward to a fourth Ryder Cup appearance, but it it likely to be his first without long-time friend Jordan Spieth.

Collin Morikawa

After winning two of his first eight majors, Morikawa was widely predicted to become a dominant force in golf, but he’s won just once since 2021.

The 28-year-old started the year strongly with a runner-up finish at The Sentry and another at Bay Hill, but he had a disappointing major campaign and failed to trouble the top 10 while missing the cut at The Open.

He did, however, get into the weekend of every event he played in the US, consistency which got him into the Tour Championship. Morikawa’s undoubted quality will be enough to earn him a third straight Ryder Cup appearance.

Keegan Bradley

If he wasn’t captain, Bradley would be a near-certainty to get a pick, although we all thought that two years ago! The emotions on show during Zach Johnson’s phone call to Bradley was one of the most uncomfortable highlights of the Full Swing series on Netflix.

Now Bradley is on the other end of the phone, and he knows full well how the disappointment will manifest when he informs certain players they won’t be at Bethpage.

Bradley’s form this year, including a memorable victory at the Travelers Championship in June, has propelled him back to the fringes of the world’s top 10.

He looked a serious threat to Tommy Fleetwood at the Tour Championship before fading down the stretch, perhaps preoccupied by the long list of difficult decisions ahead.

A likely scenario this week would be for Bradley to pick himself and then discuss the captaincy issue with his backroom team at a later date.

Patrick Cantlay

Similar to Morikawa, Cantlay made en encouraging start to 2025 before his form deserted him, although he did impress during the FedExCup Playoffs.

Cantlay, the subject of “Hatgate” at the last Ryder Cup in Rome, missed the cut in three of the four majors this season, but he’s looked in far better shape in recent weeks, capped with a runner-up finish at the Tour Championship.

The dour 33-year-old was unbeaten on his Ryder Cup debut in 2021 and he was one of Zach Johnson’s best performers in Rome, so he’s expected to get the nod from Bradley.

Sam Burns

Despite finishing a lowly 16th in the qualifying standings, there are reports in the US that Burns has been assured of a captain’s pick from Bradley.

After a slow start to the year, including three consecutive MCs, Burns picked up in mid-summer and put himself in great position to win the US Open at Oakmont as he earned out outright lead after 54 holes.

But an error-strewn 78 on the final day dropped him down among the also-rans, and Burns looked way short of his best over the next six weeks until - like Cantlay - he showed improvement in the FedExCup Playoffs, finishing fourth at the BMW and seventh at the Tour Championship.

Renowned as one of the best putters on the PGA Tour, the rumour mill suggests that Burns will be given a chance at Bethpage to atone for a tough debut in Rome.

Ben Griffin

One of the most improved players in the world this year, Griffin bagged his first PGA Tour win in partnership with Andrew Novak at the Zurich Classic, and his first individual title followed a month later.

His victory over a strong field at the Charles Schwab Challenge powered Griffin into the Ryder Cup conversation, and he ran Scottie Scheffler close in his next start at The Memorial, thus proving his ability to handle the tougher layouts on Tour.

The 29-year-old did struggle in the UK in July as he missed the cut at the Scottish Open and The 153rd Open, but he has not finished lower than 12th in his last four starts.

Griffin finished ninth in the qualifying standings and would be a deserving choice as a captain’s pick, although his inexperience may count against him.

Cameron Young

A tie for fourth at the US Open ensured that Young has now enjoyed top-10 finishes in all four majors, and he has been tipped by many for a Ryder Cup debut.

Young was in the frame two years ago, only to receive an unwelcome phone call from Zach Johnson. And, after finishing 14th in qualifying this year, he’ll be hoping for better news from Bradley.

His form over the last month is tough to overlook, with a win at the Wyndham Championship followed by an impressive run in the FedExCup Playoffs, finishing fifth, 11th and fourth.

Young is an imposing, powerful ball-striker while also impressing with his touch with the putter, attributes that would be a great fit for Bethpage Black.

Brian Harman

Since winning the Valero Texas Open just before the Masters, Harman’s season has been one of disappointment, and he’s regarded as an outsider to make the US team at Bethpage.

The 2023 Open champion has posted only two top-10 finishes since April and he has looked far from the player who cruised to his maiden major title at Hoylake.

Harman did impress on his Ryder Cup debut in Rome, winning two of his four matches, so that may count in his favour for Bethpage, but he would seem an unlikely option for the captain.

Maverick McNealy

Finished 10th in the qualifying standings and posted six top-10 finishes this season, including a podium place at the BMW Championship this month.

McNealy would certainly be a “left-field” choice as a captain’s pick for Bethpage, but the bigger story would be who got left out!

Jordan Spieth

It’s probable that Bradley will discuss all the pros and cons of selecting Spieth for Bethpage after an injury-hit season for the three-time major winner.

He’s not won in over three years and is close to dropping out of the world’s top 50, a prospect prompted by a spell on the sidelines after he hurst his wrist during the US Open.

Spieth has been an ever-present for Team USA in the last five Ryder Cups, but it will be a bit of a stretch to invite him to New York next month.

Predicted team:

• Scottie Scheffler
• JJ Spaun
• Xander Schauffele
• Russell Henley
• Harris English
• Bryson DeChambeau
• Justin Thomas
• Patrick Cantlay
• Collin Morikawa
• Keegan Bradley
• Sam Burns
• Cameron Young