Keegan Bradleys text message to rival Ryder Cup | Golf News

Keegan Bradley, Team USA’s Ryder Cup captain, is on the fence about whether or not he’ll take on a twin position as a taking part in captain after his sturdy first spherical at the PGA Championship.

Bradley, who’s maintaining tabs on potential Ryder Cup gamers this week, shot an spectacular three-under-par 68 in the first spherical at Quail Hollow. The American skipper has sparked hypothesis with his kind about presumably becoming a member of his crew on the fairways of Bethpage Black in September and probably stepping down from his management place to do so.

With the Ryder Cup just 4 months away, Bradley expressed his uncertainty but did not dismiss the thought of relinquishing his captaincy to contribute as a participant. One participant who undoubtedly will not be concerned is Phil Mickelson, who allegedly refused to give his ex-caddie Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay an anticipated current at the majors.

“I don’t know,” Bradley admitted to journalists on Thursday when questioned about his need to be a taking part in captain.

“I want to help the team the best I can. If that means playing, then I’ll do that. But you know, I think it’s pretty difficult to do both. But I have incredible vice captains, including Jim Furyk, who has done this before. Snedeker, Webb, and Kisner have all been assistants.

“We have a great crew. But if it comes down to doing it, I feel that’s what will help us win, that’s what I’ll do. But yeah, that’s the only thought in my head.”

In Charlotte, Bradley wasn’t the only Ryder Cup leader turning heads; his European counterpart Luke Donald also found his stride. The British golfer notched a stellar bogey-free, four-under 67 in the opening round, seizing the opportunity provided by a PGA of America invitation. On Thursday, Bradley praised his competitor’s performance and humorously mentioned their upcoming text message banter.

“Luke is an all-time great participant. Doesn’t shock me,” he said. “I’ll give him a little s—. I’ll inform him how pleased I’m for him to play like that, and to come out — you realize, I do not know when the final time he performed in a main was. Well, he performed right here final yr. But to come out right here and shoot four-under on the first day on this course is spectacular.”

During Thursday’s session, Team USA stars Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele, alongside Rory McIlroy, expressed disappointment over the PGA of America’s ruling against preferred lies.

Scheffler was particularly vocal, asserting to journalists: “When you suppose about the purest check of golf, I do not personally suppose that hitting the ball in the center of the green, you must get punished for.

“On a golf course as good of conditioned as this one is, this is probably a situation in which it would be the least likely difference in playing it up because most of the lies you get out here are all really good. So I understand how a golf purist would be, oh, play it as it lies.

“I do not suppose they perceive what it is like actually working your whole life to study how to hit a golf ball and control it and hit photographs and control distance, and all of a sudden, due to a guidelines determination that is totally taken away from us by probability.”

Bradley is at present sitting on one-over-par for the event after seven holes of his second spherical, while Donald is two-over-par after 13 holes.