Will the competition captain backfire?

Check out our writers and editors weekly unfiltered opinions on the sport’s hottest topics and join the conversation by tweeting on @Golf_Com. This week, we talked about Keegan Bradley as the Ryder Cup captain, the best main moments of 2025, Lottie Woad’s victory, “Happy Gilmore 2” and more.

this telegraph The report said US Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley has requested a rule change to this year’s “Captain Agreement” that will allow appointed vice captains to recommend players to play in the game. European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald has reportedly agreed to the change, which could be Bradley’s stepping stone Play and team leader In Bethpage Black. Despite all the logistics and plans that lead to becoming a captain, is it possible that the captain of the game will backfire and be favored by Europe?

Alan Bastable, executive editing (@alan_bastable): It’s hard to understand how Bradley doesn’t play. Currently, there aren’t 12 better Americans in the game – not to mention the 12 better Americans bringing the firepower and intensity that Bradley does for the field – so Captain America has no choice but to put himself on his own team. That doesn’t mean he needs to play four to five games. This may mean playing only a few pairs. He should send himself in his first game on Friday and be shaky. Will it backfire? Can. But I think the potential upside of his performance is more than just focusing his efforts on speeches and unified choices.

Sean Zak, Senior Writer (@sean_zak): It could definitely backfire. The European team definitely wants Bradley to take on a dual role. They want the stream to cross and the information must come from multiple sources, not one. That being said, this has to happen at this point. Bradley put too much into it to retreat from the captain’s duties. And he is too good to recover his ability to play. So Team USA moves forward. I want to think they have enough chefs in the kitchen to develop a solid strategy for this unique situation.

Josh Berhow, executive editor (@Josh_Berhow): This is not ideal for the American team, but Bradley is one of the 12 best Americans in the United States and has to compete. Also, you know he wants it. He is the exact type you want to make birds and hype the crowd and bring energy in the Ryder Cup. It is not a good situation to perform dual responsibilities, but I also think it’s a bit exaggerated. Yes, other things are important, but don’t complicate it – it mainly comes down to being better than other teams playing golf. A few days ago, I had a conversation with Gary Woodland, the 3m open vice captain, who said he was impressed with how Keegan manages the Ryder Cup’s responsibilities and It’s good now. Of course, Bradley will get busier, but… maybe he can handle it? Although I was curious if I had ever seriously discussed leaving the duty completely as another deputy captain and let Keegan just play and check his captain.

Speaking of Ryder Cup, it’s time for automatic qualifications and bubble players, and they make justifications for the captain’s draft pick. Which name player best proves that Bradley has won a place?

Beljo: Jordan Spieth is ranked 26th, but I still think this team has good shots. As for Wyndham Clark, on the 16th, it could be even harder. His average years are very average and have made more headlines in some unfortunate moments, although we will see if this surge is enough. He tied for 11th in the Scottish Open and tied for fourth in the Open, earning another good ending at the 3m Open Sunday and won the 12th score. Is it enough? Let’s take a look. It would make the captain’s draft pick even more interesting if Russell Henley and Harris English lock in the automatic competition location. Although I’m really curious about this name? Chris Gotterup.

Riderable: Yes, getterup (now ranked 22nd in the dot list) is an interesting one. A relative “outsider” costs a lot of money to crack the team, but, man, he looks good lately. It feels like he has the courage to withstand the pressure of the Ryder Cup. Plus, I can’t see Captain Keeg getting caught in the trap of choice just because they’ve been there in the past. Patrick Cantlay is the biggest question mark for me. He hasn’t had a bad season yet, but it’s not particularly memorable – his MC at the open championship had to let Bradley stop.

Zak: Jordan Spieth has a lot to prove. People forget that Spieth (with Justin Thomas) is part of the Ryder Cup Commission’s collection to lead Team America into the future. This is a small committee! Mainly because people think Thomas and Spieth will join the team for years. Well, JT sneaked into the 2023 team, and this time Spieth needs to be serious and sneaky. What he needs is a very good playoffs, but are we really seeing this happening?

Last week, we bowed during the men’s main season, but there’s still a lot to open up there. What were the most memorable moments of the main season?

Riderable: A little cliché, but I will remember this year, Rory went from Augusta National’s 18th green to the score, an emotional victory journey. The desire for joy and comfort is worth seeing. That moment burning in my memory bank was when McIlroy fell into Sean Lowry’s arms, the old friend of Lowry’s feet on the ground. To gain a respected mention, shouting Mao Zedong’s sudden death in the playoffs won by the Chevron. To determine a professional way is a crazy way – just hope it extends over a hole!

Zak: Who cares if it is a cliché, if it is a fact! I will reveal Alan’s answer a little bit and then simply say McIlroy’s seconds as the putter drops his knee. I found it interesting when athletes collapsed onto the floor of their sports arena – think of all the tennis stars, when their opponents crashed when they hit the ball in the game – but given how up and down the balls were a day, it felt like McIlroy was running purely on adrenaline and nothing. When he finally entered, there was no more energy to maintain him. At that moment, every part of his body seemed to touch the green, like a focused, crying, dizzy yogi. Never forget it. And never forget the 64 feet of JJ Spaun.

Beljo: Scottie Scheffler won two majors, and you didn’t even call him by his name. sad! But yes, fair, I get it. McIlroy collapse, weeping, celebrating and then walking to scoring was one of the most memorable moments of my 10 years at this job, right up there with Tiger winning the Masters in 2019 and Spieth’s Sunday surge at Royal Birkdale in 2017. There’s so much more that goes into McIlroy’s moment that helps make it special — it secured the career Grand Slam, gave him his first green jacket and changed a narrative. McIlroy’s most memorable major moment (Pinehurst 2024; St. Andrews 2023) is memorable, and the reason is the wrong reason. He didn’t let this happen again (Although Very close).

The former top-ranked amateur (and new pro business) Lottie Woad won the Women’s Scottish Open, becoming the third LPGA Tour member to debut on the LPGA Tour. Did you impress the victory of this 21-year-old? How much can LPGA benefit from another promising young player challenging the stars?

Riderable: What happened in relaxing career? Like many other elite players today, WOAD entered the top rankings of the game, ready to win, and then did that. So, yes, I would say that she impressed me with no fear. Even if Hyo Joo Kim puts some pressure on the final round, WOAD shows no sign of cracks. Instead, she birds 13 and 14 never looked back. How is this statistic: In the last three professional ball starts in WOAD, she averaged 67.4. If she isn’t her favorite for next week’s Women’s Open, she’ll be there.

Zak: LPGA can always benefit from rebirth. Especially a title that is as certain as Lottie. She has an interesting name, she just beat Nelly and she will be comfortable next week at the AIG Women’s Open. Can she double the link somehow?

Beljo: She didn’t have a bogey on Saturday, and only had one bogey on Sunday. That was the weekend recipe to win big competitions. But if you re-watch her press conference from the week, it’s not that big for her. She is now ready to know that her game is good and trusts it. Sure, she will be a problem for the Solheim Cup squad in the United States.

The highly anticipated “Happy Gilmore 2” (with Pro Golfer Cameos) finally dropped on Netflix last week. Our Josh Berhow breaks it down here, but what do you think of the sequel to The Cult Classic?

Zak: Haven’t seen it yet, but I’ll report what I’ve heard: Mixed comments! Many people who are close to the game want something as classic as the original game. They seemed disappointed. Many others don’t care what they receive and just like to see Scottie Scheffler in comedy form. They seem to be satisfied! To be honest, it feels a lot like the “Space Jam 2” feeling a few summers ago. These quirky sports movies appeared in the 90s for a number of reasons. It doesn’t matter!

Beljo: I think if it was more golf than a gold t-shirt, I would like it more, but when you think of Sandler movies from the past, this kind of script isn’t too serious. It’s great to see the sequel “To Live”, but it’s always hard to get on the original content.

Riderable: I haven’t seen everything yet (gasp!), but the pieces I’ve seen remind me of how much I miss Verne Lundquist. His “gangster sh*t, indeed” line is a highlight. I can also confirm the hit of the movie with Gen Z; my 13-year-old son-I didn’t see the original Gilmore until last week, and he gave two thumbs. (He said he particularly liked Jack Nicklaus’s golden jacket dinner scene with iced tea and lemonade, but ignored the drink’s generic name.) My kids also praised Scottie Scheffler’s performance. (Can’t men do it?)