After 452 days, Keegan Bradley secured a career victory that many thought had slipped away. At the BMW Championship, Bradley triumphed over a competitive field, claiming his 7th PGA Tour win. The 38-year-old’s impressive performance not only secured his place but also turned heads in the golf world, as he was on the brink of missing the TOUR Championship.

And Bradley might have another shocker in the store. With the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage still a year away, Bradley has been inundated with questions about his future. When asked at a press conference about his role as captain, he responded, “I know the people that elected me to be the Ryder Cup captain didn’t feel that way. They made that clear to me.” 

Regarding the possibility of being a playing captain, a role last held by Arnold Palmer in 1963, Bradley hinted it might be a possibility. He said, “I would love to be a playing captain. No one has really had the opportunity that I’ve had.” Bradley mentioned that if Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson had been given the chance at age 38, they would likely have played as well. “It’s never really had a chance to happen,” he added. 

So, how could Bradley make the team? Can he select himself as a captain’s pick, or is there another route for the seven-time PGA Tour winner to achieve his goal of being a playing captain in 61 years?

Keegan Bradley talks about making it to the 2025 Ryder Cup USA Team

There are two qualification criteria for golfers to make the Ryder Cup for Team USA. The first is that golfers must perform exceptionally in most of the events they play and become one of the six automatic selections by the captain. The second criterion, used for the 2023 Ryder Cup, involves the point list acquired between the 2022 and 2023 BMW Championships; the top six on this list automatically qualify.

A similar format will be followed even for the 2025 Ryder Cup, as Keegan Bradley revealed. So, how will he make it? The 38-year-old said, “I don’t see myself being a captain’s pick. But I’ll be proud to just be the captain.” This means the second criterion is not applicable as Bradley would not choose himself. He could still make the team through the money list, though it would be challenging to surpass players like Wyndham Clark and Xander Schauffele, and more. Hence, Bradley expressed, “It’s going to be really hard for me to make that team.” 

However, if the stars align and Bradley qualifies automatically for the 2025 Ryder Cup, he said, “I’d love to do that.” It all depends on what transpires in the next season. If Bradley maintains the form he displayed at the BMW Championship, he could very well make the 2025 Ryder Cup not just as captain but as a playing one.