A run at The Open Championship would perform double duty for Keegan Bradley.
After shooting a second-round 67 at Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland on Friday, Bradley moved to 3-under 139 for the tournament. Among the early wave of golfers, fellow American Brian Harman stood in the lead at 8-under.
Bradley, 39, has one major win to his credit — the 2011 PGA Championship. A strong finish at The Open could propel him to his best result ever there, topping his T15 in 2013.
But it also could take out of his hands the decision as to whether, as captain of the 2025 United States Ryder Cup team, he adds himself to the squad. A win, unquestionably, would put him in the ranks of the top six American golfers — all of whom receive automatic spots on the Ryder Cup team that will face the European squad in September at the Bethpage Black Course in Farmingdale, N.Y. Then, he’d need to maintain that position the rest of the season and through the playoffs.
He currently stands No. 9 on the Ryder Cup points list.
Bradley is trying to separate his two hats — Ryder Cup captain and tour competitor — at Royal Portrush.
“I’ve said this a million times, but I really can just be a player when I’m inside the ropes,” he said. “It’s the only time I can sort of not be the captain. When I’m inside the ropes with a card in my pocket, I really can just focus on playing, and then when I leave here, I’ll be the captain again. It’s impossible for me not to be. When I’m around the guys or talking to my vice captains or whatever that is or planning for Bethpage. But when I’m inside those ropes and I don’t have my phone on, I’m a player, and that’s a big help.”
Those vice captains will be a big help when it comes to ultimately picking that 12-player team. He likely will turn to Tiger Woods, too, who has “been one of the most helpful people that I’ve had” during the Ryder Cup process, he said.
Bradley and his brain trust “have a plan,” he said. “We have a ‘for instance’ that could happen. That can obviously change during the week. You’ve got to see how each player is playing. But we’re learning as we go just like everybody else.”
Bradley said he’s watching the leaderboard this weekend, both as a captain and an opponent. As a captain, he’s watching the Americans who are doing well. As a competitor, he’s keeping track of the full field.
Speaking after his Friday round, Bradley the player was happy.
“That was fun. Played really, really well. I’ve been playing so poorly here over the last couple years,” he said. “It feels nice to put a nice round together, nice two days together. I played nice yesterday as well. But what a fun day.”
He has missed the cut at The Open in each of his past five appearances. What makes 2025 different?
“Just playing a lot better. I’ve really struggled on the greens over here the last handful of years,” he said. “I’ve struggled on slower greens, had a better game plan and had to feel a longer stroke and made a lot more putts, but also driving the ball well, which is huge.”
His Friday round consisted on an eagle on the par-5 second hole and two birdies on the back nine.
“I really am proud of that,” he said of the bogey-free round. “Like I said, I’ve struggled here, so to be in contention, to have played the way I did today means a lot. I never know what I’m going to get when I come over here, so this is a nice bonus.”
–Field Level Media
