Keegan Bradley’s rollercoaster 2025 season took another dip at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, where a lackluster T44 finish at TPC Southwind has intensified calls for the U.S. Ryder Cup captain to abandon aspirations of being a playing captain.
Bradley’s 2-under par performance (72-70-69-67) in the PGA Tour’s playoff opener marks his fourth consecutive disappointing result since his thrilling Travelers Championship victory in June, raising questions about his ability to juggle competitive play and leadership duties ahead of the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in September.
Bradley, 39, entered the FedEx St. Jude Championship ranked 10th in FedEx Cup points, buoyed by his dramatic win at the Travelers Championship, where he outdueled Tommy Fleetwood with a clutch birdie on the 72nd hole to finish at 15-under.
That victory, his eighth on the PGA Tour and second at TPC River Highlands in three years, reignited speculation about Bradley becoming the first playing captain since Arnold Palmer in 1963. However, his form since has been alarming: a T41 at the Rocket Classic, a T30 at The Open Championship, a missed cut at the Wyndham Championship, and now a T44 in Memphis.
These results already suggest Bradley is scuffling to juggle the captainship with playing duties needed to compete against Europe’s best.
At TPC Southwind, Bradley’s struggles were evident. He finished 53rd in Strokes Gained: Putting, and his T44 finish in a 69-player field did little to bolster his case for a dual role, especially as bubble players like Cameron Young (solo 5th), Andrew Novak (T6), and Patrick Cantlay (T9) showcased sharper form.
With the BMW Championship at Caves Valley looming, Bradley faces a critical juncture. As the Ryder Cup approaches, the golf world watches closely: can Bradley regain his Travelers form, or is it time to fully embrace his role as captain and leave playing to others?
