Travel back to 2023 and you’ll hear Keegan Bradley call himself an outsider in the sport. 2 years later, he is preparing to become the heart of American golf. Keegan Bradley is all set to turn into a true insider when he takes on the role of captain for Team America in the 2025 Ryder Cup. He is now truly all the golf world can talk about.

A few months ago, even Bradley wouldn’t trust that this was real. But it is, and Justin Thomas loves Bradley as the pick for captaincy. But it’s not just his role as a captain that Thomas supports; it’s also his ambition of being a playing captain at Bethpage that he encourages. However revolutionary it may be.

Justin Thomas shared his 2 cents on the matter in his interview at the Genesis Scottish Open. He said, “He [Keegan Bradley] could definitely be a playing captain. That’s kind of the thought with John Wood being our manager; I think he has the opportunity to really take a lot of the day-to-day or a lot of the work, really, off of Keegan if it’s needed, or any playing captain, if that’s the route that’s needed to go in the future. You know, I just think it’s opening up a whole new opportunity and I think no captain is going to know the players and their games than somebody who is playing with us at highest level every single week. I obviously love the pick and I think it’s a change of direction for the best.”

But what makes Bradley’s dream of being a captain so special? If 38-year-old Bradley makes his dreams a reality, he will register his name in the books of history. Bradley will become the second youngest captain to date. Second only to Arnold Palmer, who was 34 during his 1963 captaincy. But not everyone is as assured of this pick as Justin Thomas.

Rory McIlroy views Keegan Bradley as an “interesting pick” by Team USA

While happy for his colleague Keegan Bradley, the Northern Irishman did not shy away from stating that it was a “surprise” too many, including Bradley. Standing on the opposite end of Team USA, this Team Europe star thinks, “it’s certainly a departure from what the U.S. have done over the last few years, and, you know, time will tell if that’s a good thing or not.”

The European approach remains traditional, something McIlroy enjoys. He values the continuity his team has had over the years. The approach followed by Europe is simple: vice captains become captains. In fact, Bethpage will also feature [former captain] Paul McGinley as a strategic adviser.

McIlroy is also not as enthusiastic as Thomas on the idea of a playing captain. Expressing his take, he added, “If you want to be the best captain you can be, you can’t play. And if you want to be the best player you can be, you can’t captain. It’s one or the other. Especially with how big the Ryder Cup has become and how many things you have to do in the lead-up to the event, the week of the event.”

It remains to be seen whether Keegan Bradley’s ambitions of being a playing captain will see the light of day or not. Do you think this will be good for Team USA? Let us know in the comments below!