Like any losing Ryder Cup captain, Keegan Bradley is probably reflecting on all of the decisions he made which potentially cost Team USA at Bethpage Black last month.

Team USA became the first home team to lose the Ryder Cup on home soil since 2012.

Keegan Bradley looked set to be a captain who could really galvanise his players, particularly after deciding against picking himself.

Unfortunately, it was Europe who left New York with the trophy. Luke Donald‘s men were absolutely dominant over the first two days – and were able to stumble across the line on Sunday.

Bradley immediately admitted his regret over the course set-up.

From an American perspective, Bethpage would have been the perfect venue for the teams of the 2016 Ryder Cup. The rough was completely cut back and the greens were incredibly soft.

Meanwhile, Bradley also put Collin Morikawa and Harris English together twice. Statistically, they were deemed to be the worst possible pairing the skipper could have sent out in foursomes. Nevertheless, they featured in both morning sessions.

And it seems that J.J. Spaun has accidentally revealed another big error Bradley made in the build-up.

J.J. Spaun shares Keegan Bradley’s thinking for his Friday morning pairings at the Ryder Cup

It surprised many that Spaun did not play foursomes at Bethpage. The US Open champion appeared to be perfect for the format after an outstanding year.

And Spaun has now explained why Bradley left him out.

“I wasn’t sure what format I would start in. I talked to Keegan a few weeks prior, and he was just adamant about having a pretty veteran-heavy lineup going out in the first match, which was foursomes,” he said.

“So, it had nothing to do with how I was playing or what equipment I played. It was more of he wanted to put guys out there first who have been in that arena, have had success, and have had the experience. Getting my feet wet in fourballs, which is probably an easier format, I think, was appropriate.

“But who knows? I don’t know what the thought process was for Saturday’s matches, but I think Keegan didn’t want to freak out and start changing things around, just assuming, put the batting lineup out there, and eventually get things turned around.”

Firstly, it is alarming to hear that form did not play a particularly significant role in Bradley’s thinking for the opening session.

But it is also troubling that he prioritised playing experienced players.

The dreadful foursomes records Bradley seemingly put his faith in at Bethpage

While Scottie Scheffler was never going to sit out on Friday morning, it cannot be ignored that the world number one has never won a foursomes match in the Ryder Cup.

He has now lost all four matches he has played in the format.

Bryson DeChambeau had also lost every foursomes match he had played in the event.

Meanwhile, Harris English did not play in either alternate shot session in his previous appearance in 2021.

Russell Henley was a rookie who did lose a foursomes match alongside Scheffler at last year’s Presidents Cup.

So it should have come as little surprise when Europe won the opening session 3-1.

Remarkably, Bradley then sent out three of the same pairings on Saturday, including Morikawa and English.

The only change he made saw Cameron Young replace Justin Thomas. Young and DeChambeau went on to deliver Team USA’s only point of the first session of Saturday.

Admittedly, the likes of Spaun, Ben Griffin and Sam Burns did not look overly impressive on Friday afternoon.

However, Bradley reacted to his side being completely blown away on day one by moving only a few pieces around rather than rolling the dice.

Why Keegan Bradley’s view on using rookies was so outdated

Spaun is a major winner. Burns – who, admittedly, struggled in 2023 – was the best putter on the PGA Tour heading into the event. And Griffin had won the Zurich Classic this year – an event which includes two rounds of foursomes.

It is not difficult to work out why Europe found themselves seven points ahead going into the singles.

And Bradley only needed to look back to 2023 for proof that rookies can hit the ground running.

Ludvig Aberg and Sepp Straka both delivered points on Friday morning for Europe. Team USA’s leading points scorer in Rome, meanwhile, was debutant Max Homa.

He also seemingly forgot that a rookie by the name of Keegan Bradley won three points from his first three matches at Medinah in 2012. Bradley actually did not play the 18th hole once that week.

The PGA of America picked a captain who should have breathed fresh life into Team USA’s Ryder Cup culture.

Unfortunately, Spaun’s comments further suggest that Bradley decided to reach for a playbook that was so outdated it had barely been picked up since his most recent appearance as a player more than a decade ago.