Keegan Bradley will have plenty of options when it comes to his six captain’s picks for September’s Ryder Cup, but one hopeful has played down his chances of making the team
Tony Finau had a message for Keegan Bradley(Image: Getty Images)
Tony Finau believes his current form does not warrant a place on the United States Ryder Cup team, even if Keegan Bradley were to pick him.
A two-time Ryder Cup player, Finau knows exactly what it takes to win the matchplay event, having helped guide Team USA to victory at Whistling Straits in 2021. If he is to make the team this time around, he will be relying on a captain’s pick, and Bradley has plenty to choose from, including himself.
Bradley could well become the first playing captain since 1963 on the Ryder Cup stage. If he picks himself, that would leave just five spots available for Finau and co.
The two-time player, however, believes that he is not currently deserving of a place on the team. “If the Ryder Cup were today, I would tell Keegan to make sure you don’t pick me, “Finau said, per the Golfing Gazette. But the decision is not made today.
“Why not make a run at the play-offs? That’s the goal, that’s the ultimate goal.
“At the moment, it’s one foot in front of the other, as the cliche goes, one shot at a time, that’s all I can do over the next few weeks, just try to play as good golf as I can and see where the chips fall.”
Finau will need a strong finish to his PGA Tour season in the coming weeks, with the six-time winner sitting 50th in the FedEx Cup standings.
The position means he will most likely make it into the opening playoff event at the FedEx St. Jude Championship next week.
Tony Finau is back in action this week(Image: Getty Images)
His current positioning means he would also take the final spot at the BMW Championship a week later, but to maintain that, he will need two strong showings at this week’s Wyndham Championship and the St. Jude.
He is not the only big name who will be gunning for a strong finish to earn a captain’s pick.
Jordan Spieth has been involved with the American team in the last five Ryder Cups, but a stop-start 2025 has put his spot at risk this time around.
Having picked up an injury at the Travelers Championship and then welcomed the 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡 of his third 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥, Spieth spent four weeks out prior to this month’s Open.
“It’s a big stretch for me right now,” the 2017 Open champion told a group of reporters at Royal Portrush. “I haven’t played in four weeks, and I moved down the FedEx Cup rankings, Ryder Cup. People are making up ground, and I didn’t play.
“We had the 𝑏𝑎𝑏𝑦 coming, I had to withdraw from Travelers. It’s a big next six weeks coming up for me, so the ultimate goal is to try to make the Ryder Cup team, and the only way to do that is to play really well in these big events, the Open Championship being first.”
Spieth went on to finish in a tie for 40th at the final major championship of the year and will return to action alongside Finau at Sedgefield Country Club this week.
