Keegan Bradley looks set to make one of the boldest Ryder Cup calls in decades. After weeks of speculation about whether he would be a part of the US team, Bradley has reportedly chosen himself as a wildcard pick! If confirmed, he will become the first playing captain since Arnold Palmer in 1963 — a move that could shake golf on both sides of the Atlantic.

This decision will undoubtedly cause of lot of stir in the golf world. Bradley has been warned time and again that this could be “one of the worst decisions made” by a Ryder Cup Team captain. Just last week, former vice-captain Stewert Cink advised Bradley that if he wanted to play, he should give up his captaincy. “It would be hard to do both. It’s just a lot.” Even golf analyst Drew Soltz echoed the same concern on Golf Suppar.

On the other side of the ocean, the rival team’s Rory McIlroy recently argued that the modern Ryder Cup is too demanding for one person to balance competing and guiding. But apparently, all of this has fallen on deaf ears. After finishing T7 at the TOUR Championship, Bradley has leaned on his vice-captains for advice — and according to insiders, all of them have encouraged him to play. After his stint at the East Lake, Bradley joked that he is well aware his vice captains have a separate group chat behind his back. “I’m sure they have some of their opinions that they want to tell me what they think.” Looks like they have shared their opinion. And if Bradley was skeptical about them, it has surprisingly turned out to be in his own favor.

What makes this decision even riskier is who Bradley leaves out. Ben Griffin, after a breakout season, could be the unlucky omission, while Collin Morikawa‘s spot looks shaky. What’s interesting is, a few days ago, it was reported that Captain America had given his assent to Sam Burns. Now, where does he stand? It will be interesting to see. “I know whatever decision he makes is going to be one that he thinks is best for the team,” Burns had said while answering questions on the Ryder Cup.

And Burns isn’t alone. Fellow Americans like Rickie Fowler and Patrick Cantlay — the latter himself being in contention if he’ll be a part of the team — have been urging Bradley to pick himself up. Moreover, the political twist only adds fuel to an already shaky angle. President Donald Trump has publicly urged Bradley to choose himself, comparing him to Palmer. “Keegan Bradley should DEFINITELY be on the American Ryder Cup Team — As Captain!!! He is an AMAZING guy. It will be a great Ryder Cup,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. For Bradley, he had enough support in his camp to choose himself.

Adding on to this, his recent performance might also help him justify his selection. Bradley has climbed to world no. 11 and is the seventh-highest American in the rankings. He’s won twice in the past year and, on form, fully deserves a spot on the team. The question is whether he can juggle the pressure of leading while also producing points as a player, as cautioned by many.

But recent advances point out that Team Europe has helped him smooth that path. Captain Luke Donald signed off on a rule change that will allow Bradley’s vice-captains to temporarily take charge when he’s playing. Although many believe that this concession came because Europe secretly hopes the dual-role backfires.

Anyway, it’s not just his captaincy that’s been under the microscope. Bradley has been receiving constant backlash for various things, from the new US Ryder Cup uniform or his choice of formats — foursomes and fourballs. At the same time, speculations about his six picks turned frenzied over the past month. Cameron Young and Chris Gotterup were initially expected to be in the mix, but their underwhelming performance at the FedEx Cup showings left them vulnerable. Bradley had even texted Gotterup earlier this month, but now appears to have shut the door by sliding his own name into the list. Other names which could be in the mix if Captain America goes by the Ryder Cup standings are likely to be those of Justin Thomas (7), Maverick McNealy (10), and Brian Harman (12).

Keegan Bradley will be confirming his decision on Wednesday, 27 Aug, in Texas, when he’ll unveil his six Captain’s Picks for the US Team. The others who have automatically qualified are Scottie Scheffler, JJ Spaun, Xander Schauffele, Russell Henley, Harris English, and Bryson DeChambeau.

With so much at stake, let’s see what happened the last time a US Team Captain played in the Ryder Cup.

A look back at the 1963 Ryder Cup

The 1963 Ryder Cup, held at the Atlanta Club (now East Lake), marked a turning point in the event’s history. For the first time, the competition spanned three days (the first Ryder Cup to do so) and introduced the four-ball format, alongside foursomes and singles. Leading the US team was Arnold Palmer, who not only captained but also played – becoming the last American to serve as a playing captain. Under his charge, the US crushed Great Britain 23-9, one of the most lopsided margins ever recorded. Palmer pulled his weight too, finishing with a 4-2 record.

What made 1963 stand out was the dominance of the Americans. They didn’t stop a single afternoon session, and Palmer’s presence both inside the ropes and in the team room set the tone. The format tweaks gave the Ryder Cup new energy, while Palmer’s dual role is still remembered as a rare feat of leadership and performance. His gear from that week is enshrined at East Lake as a nod to one of the cleanest, most commanding Ryder Cups ever played.

If the reports are to be believed, and Keegan Bradley indeed chooses himself as the captain, he will surely try to mimic this feat. “I got a chance to make the team. I am gonna do what I think is best for the United States Ryder Cup team.” For what’s worth, Captain America looks confident in whatever decision he takes.