Sky Sports man claims Europe “laughing” over Keegan Bradley problem

The unusual dilemma surrounding Keegan Bradley and the American Ryder Cup captaincy is playing into the hands of Luke Donald and Europe.

That’s the verdict of a baffled Wayne ‘Radar’ Riley, the Sky Sports on-course commentator, who is wondering: “How did Team USA get themselves in this position?”

Many are now asking the same question after captain Bradley leapt into contention for his own American team with victory at the Travelers Championship on Sunday.

By beating Tommy Fleetwood to the $3.6million prize in dramatic fashion at TPC River Highlands in Connecticut, Bradley moved into a career-high of seventh in the world rankings, while he is ninth on his own Ryder Cup points list.

Bradley, who was appointed US skipper exactly a year before that eighth PGA Tour win, has now admitted the ‘story has changed’ as he would not have considered playing without a victory this year.

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“This definitely opens the door to play,” Bradley said afterwards. “I don’t know if I’m going to do it or not, but I certainly have to take a pretty hard look at what’s best for the team and we’ll see.”

Bradley is now considering whether to pick himself for his team, but there is doubt whether he will be able to occupy a dual role without delegating or stepping down for a de facto captain.

Riley believes such discourse three months out from the Bethpage showdown is music to the ears of the Europeans.

“Luke Donald must be laughing his head off,” Riley said in his Sky Sports column. “A lot of people a year ago thought Europe were going to get hammered at Bethpage, but not anymore.

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“What happens when it all goes pear-shaped a little on Sunday and the Americans are losing? The New Yorkers could turn on them. The Europeans could absolutely love it.

“He’s just got to say: ‘I’m going to play and do you people want me as a playing captain?’ That’s how he’s got to go about it. I don’t think you can be a playing captain in something so very big.

“Everyone’s looking at each other and going, what does he do here? How does he win? He can’t drop himself, because he’s the seventh-best golfer in the world, so he owes it to the team to play.

“He’s got to drop himself as a captain, he’s got to just play. But then who does he give the captaincy to? Right now, for me, the whole thing is advantage Europe.”