This week’s FedEx Cup play-offs at the St. Jude Championships in Memphis could be crucial to Jordan Spieth’s chances of convincing Team USA captain Keegan Bradley to pick him for next month’s Ryder Cup
Jordan Spieth remains hopeful he can sneak into Team USA’s Ryder Cup squad(Image: Getty Images)
Jordan Spieth has been teasing Team USA captain Keegan Bradley to “give up” his Ryder Cup playing spot – to open up an extra place for him.
Bradley’s impressive form – topped by his win at the Travelers Championship in June – has the 39-year-old comfortably in the U.S. top 10 Ryder Cup rankings ahead of next month’s tournament at Bethpage Black, to the point that not selecting himself would be an even bigger surprise.
Should he take the unorthodox step and select himself among Team USA’s 12-man roster, Bradley would become the first captain to also play in the Ryder Cup since Arnold Palmer in 1963.
Bradley, who was overlooked by Zach Johnson for the 2023 Ryder Cup team despite ranking 11th, will face the tricky task of selecting his six captain’s picks after the upcoming BMW Championship, which starts on August 14.
Spieth can ensure he will at least be involved at Caves Valley, providing he secures a top 50 finish in the FedEx Cup standings (currently 48th).
And the three-time major winner is confident he can put himself into contention for the Ryder Cup, particularly if captain Bradley kindly steps aside. “It was my loftiest goal to start the season,” Spieth told SiriuxXM PGA Tour Radio.
Keegan Bradley’s own form could see him be the first playing Ryder Cup captain in over 60 years(Image: Getty Images)
“I was coming in with almost no carryover points from [2024], which hurts and is unusual for me for a Ryder Cup year, and then obviously skipping the first month of the season I thought, ‘Boy, this would be the end goal.’
“And the idea that I have a chance for it is very cool. If you told me I have a chance for it in August, I’d be excited about it.”
“Having said that, I’m certainly on the outside looking in right now, and I recognize that. I keep trying to convince Keegan that it’d be a lot for him to have to play, too,” Spieth joked. “So he probably should give up that pick, even if he’s a top 10 player and a top seven player in the world.
“Just seems like way too much to have to do. So, I’m trying to open up all the opportunities I can, but I can also go take care of business myself.”
A solid performance at the St. Jude Championship in Memphis this week in the FedEx Cup play-offs would put extra weight behind Spieth’s case to be involved. But the likes of Chris Gotterup, Cameron Young and Patrick Cantlay are also in the conversation and significantly ahead of Spieth when it comes to ranking points.
Spieth’s recent record at the Ryder Cup has hardly been spectacular, either. Since recording seven wins, five defeats and two draws in his first three Ryder Cups, the 32-year-old has one win, four defeats and three draws in his last two appearances.
“I’ve played in five of ’em,” Spieth added. “They’re the coolest events you can play in in the sport, and I’d love to play in another five if I can — or more. And this one will be special being at Bethpage.
“But I know I’m on the outside looking in, the only way I can change that is just by focusing on setting a goal for [Memphis], stay on the first tee and hit my line.
“It’s a shot at a time, it’s a round at a time. I’m still relying on the captains and the assistants on thinking I’d be an additive addition to the team, so that’s my goal.”
