Ryder Cup predictions, Open Championship preview

Check in every week for the unfiltered views of our writers and editors as they analyze the hottest topics in sports, and join the conversation by tweeting us at @igalofu_com. This week, we discuss Keegan Bradley’s Ryder Cup captaincy, the biggest headlines from the Open Championship and more.

In a surprise announcement, Keegan Bradley has been named US Ryder Cup captain for the 2025 event at Bethpage Black. Bradley, 38, has played in two Ryder Cups (2012, 2014), has never been an assistant captain and was not in the 2023 team that lost in Rome. Now that we’re a few days removed from the election, what are your thoughts? A good decision? Or could inexperience be more costly?

James Colgan, news and features editor (@jamescolgan26): My thoughts are that the Americans badly needed a big swing after Rome, and in Bradley, they got it. If I were an American fan, I’d be happy: I much prefer it when my teams take more dangerous, upward swings. Maybe Keegs isn’t the most prepared guy for the job, but with the crowds expected in Bethpage, it may not matter.

Sean Zak, senior author (@sean_zak): I think things are going to get weird. Sometime in 2025, Bradley will compete on the PGA Tour, confirming all questions about his abilities as a playing captain. But I believe what Rory McIlroy said on Thursday in Scotland: “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 be a captain. It’s one or the other.” The event is too big, the demands are too many, the relationship too difficult for Bradley to have a breezy captain while being the top 20 player in the world, too. John Wood will definitely help him. But he may end up carrying more than we previously thought.

Zephyr Melton, assistant editor (@zephyrmelton): It’s not at all common, but I can see that Americans at least I’m trying thinking outside the box. I’d much rather see something unusual than watch them continue to use a system they haven’t had much success with. The jury is out on whether that candidate will succeed or not, but at least they show some willingness to bend when everyone expects them to screw up.

Rory McIlroy said the selection seemed “very responsive to what happened in Rome.” Do you agree? If the US were to win the final cup, would Bradley be the chosen one?

Colgan: Yes indeed. It it was reaction, but that’s what most leadership decisions are. If Tiger had been available, we would have been talking about this captain in a very different language, but he wasn’t, and Keegan was a good choice across the board.

Zak: It was more of a reaction to Tiger Woods not being available. That’s what this whole thing is about, really. If the US wins in Rome, Zach Johnson is likely to captain the team again. He will be considered an American hero.

Melton: Agree with what SZ said above. Tiger was always Plan A, and when he refused the position, the pickings were small. It was a perfect storm of unusual employment.

In his introductory press conference, Bradley said he “didn’t have a single conversation with anyone about this until I was told I was the captain.” Did that surprise you? What can we take from that comment?

Colgan: Uhh, yeah, you should probably interview for the most important job in American golf before you get hired. But there’s not much Keegan can say about the Ryder Cup behind closed doors that he hasn’t said publicly. I think that helped the US side feel more comfortable.

Zak: I was surprised by that approval. 1. That it was true. We love the Ryder Cup captain – a role that calls for many answers – who isn’t afraid to tell the truth. 2. I think it shows how little connection the new generation of American golfers (read: JT, Spieth, et all) have to the generation before them (read: Cink, Kuchar, et al). Thomas said that all he wants is a captain who the team can enjoy playing for. That he didn’t see that in the likes of Cink and Kuchar tells you that players of his generation want more than just a long-time Tour pro with a bit of success.

Melton: That was very shocking and a little touching. You would hope that he would have gone through the interview process before giving the nod. Let’s hope the lack of vetting doesn’t come back to bite Americans.

Bradley wasn’t that far into the team last year, and at 19th in the World Ranking it wouldn’t be a surprise if he was successful in points (he said he wouldn’t use the captain’s choice on himself). With Bradley still competing, however, there are plenty of opportunities beyond past Ryder Cups for the captain to play with. But can that situation harm the team? Even if Bradley doesn’t play or just hand the captaincy over to an assistant?

Colgan: I think Bradley would have served his country well by captaining or playing in the Cup, not both. How cool would it be if, after all this fuss, he made a team and gave the captaincy to Tiger Woods?

Zak: He would love that result, James. Think about Tiger, too. As I wrote above, I envision things getting weird next year sometime. A Bradley win in the spring or early summer months isn’t a wild idea, but it’s the kind of thing that would give him a ton of points and make the team-building situation difficult.

Melton: The captain who is playing for the first time in this event does not look like a storm of success, but something unusual has happened. I don’t expect Keegan to make the team, though, so this situation should remain a consideration.

It’s no secret that the job was Tiger Woods when he wanted it, but Woods decided he couldn’t fully commit to this position while managing his other responsibilities. When do you expect Woods to take his turn?

Colgan: I think Adare Manor in ’27 is the most likely place for Tiger. Captaining the Ryder Cup in place of good friend JP McManus’ magnum opus would be a great way to see Woods, and leading the US in its quest for its first victory on European soil in four decades would be … amazing.

Zak: Yes, Ireland in ’27 made good sense. He was captain in a crucial road victory in the President’s Cup. We know you love the idea of ​​tactical machines. A road Cup victory would be among the best stamps he could make on a regular Ryder Cup career.

Melton: I agreed it would be epic, but I would hate to see the Tiger captain end up with another loss for the US on European soil. I’d rather he wait until 2029 so he can lead America to victory on home soil.

Next up, the final men’s championship of the year, the Open Championship at Royal Troon. It is the 10th time Troon has hosted the Open, with the most recent in 2016 when Henrik Stenson defeated Phil Mickelson. Is Rory McIlroy’s first single coming out of his US Open heartbreak the big storyline of the week? If not, what is it?

Colgan: There’s no bigger story in sports right now than Rory’s comeback, but here are two others that piqued my interest: Bryson’s push for the best season of his career, and Scottie Scheffler’s attempt to cap off a historic season with his first major win. away from Augusta. It’s a good week to have a good week.

Zak: I love the last major of the year. And not just because I’m part-time. But mostly because there have been three different big winners this year, which means each of them gets a chance to be i 2024 double winner. It’s been six years since we’ve had one player win two majors in the men’s game, and we’ve had a good crop of contenders in Scottie, Xander and Bryson.

Melton: My colleagues have done a good job explaining the story lines above, so I’ll go in a different direction. I’ll be interested to see Jon Rahm’s version. His first season at LIV has seen the Spaniard have a disappointing season so far. But all that will be forgotten with a win at Royal Troon.

Three players have already won majors this year: Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele and Bryson DeChambeau. Without a win at Troon, which professional could leave the big 2024 season most disappointed?

Colgan: Obviously Rory is the obvious answer, but what about Collin Morikawa, whose game may have been second in the world in the last 6 months, and who has a handful of top-5s to show for it?

Zak: Yes, James nailed the top two answers here. Most people think that Rory is the obvious answer to the disappointment because he will be a clear 10 years removed from his last major victory, but it is no longer about 10 years for me. Almost another year of top-3-in-the-world golf without it going through four major events. It will be another year of three surprise wins (Dubai, Zurich, and Quail Hollow) and a zero big you win. Not so incredible golf but not the kind he’s looking for the most. That’s a wonderful kind of disappointment.

Melton: What about Brooks Koepka? After winning the PGA in 2023, he looked like he was back from being the worst player in golf, but this year he is yet to register a top 25 finish in the majors. For someone who only cares about the big four, not being able to compete all season must sting.