Keegan Bradley might be downplaying it publicly, but there are a few names on the US Ryder Cup team whose form will have him keeping an eye on the situation.
On Wednesday, Bradley named his six captain’s picks for the Ryder Cup, and what caught most people off guard was that he left himself out of the squad.
Bradley earned significant praise for prioritizing the team’s success over his personal interest, as many considered his decision to step aside a selfless act.
Bradley gave the final spot to Sam Burns, who has not been playing well this year. In fact, several members of Team USA have been struggling with their game recently.
There are three American players in particular who aren’t anywhere close to top form right now.
Three players who could struggle at Bethpage Black for Team USA
Luke Donald’s side appear to be slightly more settled than their American counterparts, despite both teams being very well matched.
On the American side, there are more questions around players who have not been performing well.
One example is Xander Schauffele, who has had a difficult 2025 season on the PGA Tour.
He did not get started until March after dealing with a small cartilage tear and an intercostal strain at the start of the year.
But it has taken him much longer than expected to come anywhere close to his 2024 form.
This season, his main issue has been off the tee. He ranks 85th in strokes gained off the tee and 149th in driving accuracy.
With straight and long driving so important at Bethpage, Schauffele could be a weak spot for Team USA. That would have been hard to predict just a year ago.
Next up is Justin Thomas, facing similar issues. He sits 81st in strokes gained off the tee and 146th in driving accuracy.
Thomas has never been known for his driving, and if he cannot hit around 65% of fairways at Bethpage, it could be a tough week for him in New York State.
Team USA face multiple issues ahead of Ryder Cup
The United States has more than just Schauffele and Thomas to worry about right now, adding to Keegan Bradley’s list of concerns.
Collin Morikawa has also struggled. He has missed two cuts in his last five starts, with his best finish being a T-19 in a limited 30-man field at the Tour Championship.
Distance off the tee is the biggest issue for Morikawa. He finished 140th in driving distance this season, and that could become a major problem on such a long course.
While home advantage might make the United States slight favourites, there are still plenty of questions surrounding their form heading into Bethpage Black.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
