US captain Keegan Bradley eyes picking himself to play in Ryder Cup

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Keegan Bradley is pondering becoming a playing captain for the Ryder Cup.

PHOTO: REUTERS

NEW YORK – US Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley could become the first playing captain for the Americans since 1963, as he ponders six selections to complete his squad for the event in September.

The 39-year-old American would become the first US playing captain in the biennial showdown against Europe since the late Arnold Palmer 62 years ago if he calls his own name on Aug 27.

Six automatic qualifiers for the US line-up include top-ranked Scottie Scheffler, two-time Major winners Xander Schauffele and Bryson DeChambeau, US Open winner J.J. Spaun and fellow Ryder Cup rookie Russell Henley and Harris English.

Bradley stands 11th in the world rankings, eighth on the list among Americans, after sharing seventh at last week’s Tour Championship. He won his eighth PGA Tour title at the Travelers Championship in June.

His solid play this season has many thinking Bradley would be a perfect choice for the line-up, including US President Donald Trump, who plans to attend the first of three days of competition at Bethpage Black on Sept 26.

After a season of facing questions about his plans to play or not, the time for a choice has finally come for Bradley, who called it the hardest decision of his life.

“It has been a wild year,” he said.

“It’s difficult because I want to put the team in the best position to win the Ryder Cup. So there’s sort of an unknown – Arnold Palmer did it in 1963, but it’s a totally different