Keegan Bradley makes first British Open cut since 2018 as playing captain questions persist
Bradley shot a bogey-free 4-under 67 at Royal Portrush Golf Club on Friday to put himself in contention at the 153rd British Open and make his first cut at the Open since 2018.
The 39-year-old Team USA captain continues to make his case for being the first playing captain since Arnold Palmer in 1963. Entering the week ranked No. 9 in the Ryder Cup point standings and seventh in the Official World Golf Ranking, Bradley could earn some valuable points given that majors receive 1 ½ times the points of a regular Tour event. The top six in the final Ryder Cup points rankings automatically qualify for the team and Bradley will be given six captain's picks to round out the team.
Asked what he will do if he finishes seventh in the standings, Bradley said, 'it certainly won't be easy. Nothing about picking whoever it is is going to be easy, but if I get to that position and I feel like I'm going to help the team, then I'll consider playing. But I really get asked that question 10 times a day, and I don't really have an answer.'
He's also in unchartered territory as he considers being a playing captain. He's said that he can't call up Arnold Palmer for advice on how to do it. But he has picked the brain of Tiger Woods, who did double duty at the 2019 Presidents Cup.
'I've spoken to him a ton about this. There's a few other guys that have done it in the Presidents Cup. The Ryder Cup is a much different animal,' he said. 'But we have a plan. We have a 'for instance' that could happen. That can obviously change during the week. You've got to see how each player is playing. But we're learning as we go just like everybody else.'
Despite winning the Travelers Championship last month, Bradley said his work to make the team is far from done.
'I had a very similar year at (in 2023) and didn't make the team. I have to keep going. I really need to play well this event and then in the Playoffs,' he said.
Bradley had missed the cut at his last five British Opens, including at Portrush in 2019. His best career finish is 15th. 'He's got the highest ball flight on the PGA Tour. He sends it into orbit,' said Golf Channel's Brandel Chamblee ahead of the Open. 'I'm not sure that he fully appreciates or understands how to play links golf and to work his way around these golf courses.'
But Bradley, who conceded he has struggled with the slower greens at the Open, is controlling his ball flight and got off to a roaring start with an eagle at the second hole, ripping 5-wood from 258 yards to 17 feet and rolling in the putt.
'The shot I hit in there was one of the best shots I've hit all year,' Bradley said.
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