Bradley now a serious contender to become a playing captain

Keegan Bradley has the look of a man who tried really hard to be liked by the popular kids in school, but just wasn’t.

Even during what has been a thoroughly successful PGA Tour career, Bradley has always looked like someone who has a chip on his shoulder, someone who has never been universally accepted or adored.

That was never more evident than when he was left out of the USA Ryder Cup team last year by captain Zach Johnson who opted for his buddies over someone who is quite a marmite character in Bradley.

This wasn’t the first time that he had been a surprise omission from a team. In 2011 he won the PGA Championship and was considered as the front runner for Fred Couples’ Presidents Cup team but he was passed over for Bill Haas.

Bradley has Ryder Cup experience and in 2012 and 2014 was the heartbeat of the US teams despite losing on both occasions, most famously in Medinah and he still hasn’t unpacked his suitcase since.

The American has been trying to get back to that stage ever since but this time he holds all the cards.

The 38-year-old is the youngest US captain since Arnold Palmer in 1963. Palmer was also the last playing captain and there is no doubt that Bradley is in a very strong position to break that mould.

Bradley’s win at the BMW Championship on Sunday vaulted him to 11th in the Official World Golf Rankings, putting him in the fray for Presidents Cup selection next month as well.