Even after Tiger Woods decided to turn down the Ryder Cup captaincy, no one would have guessed that the PGA of America would turn to Keegan Bradley for Bethpage Black in 2025.

With the 2025 Ryder Cup having the potential to be the biggest of all time, it appeared to be the perfect time for Tiger Woods to take on the captaincy. However, Woods rejected the role – that prompted the PGA of America to offer the gig to Keegan Bradle

Bradley was such a surprising choice given that he was still playing so well. It seemed a very real possibility that he would become the first playing captain to face Europe.

Bradley won the Travelers Championship and was in contention on Sunday at East Lake to win the Tour Championship. Nevertheless, the 39-year-old opted not to pick himself days later when he announced his picks for New York.

What has been most surprising about Keegan Bradley’s captaincy ahead of the Ryder Cup

Some suspected Bradley was freed up at the Tour Championship by deciding to leave himself out. But clearly, he will know that many will argue that he made a mistake if the USA go on and lose next week.

However, Graeme McDowell believes that Bradley deserves enormous credit just for taking the decision down to the wire. Speaking on The Smylie Show, the LIV Golf player admitted that he has been taken aback by how well the 2011 PGA Championship winner has performed.

“I was sceptical in the beginning because Keegan’s obviously still a great player. It felt like it was a bit of a deviation away from standard a little bit. Zach Johnson, he’s not one of the older guys either, I suppose, and he was captain in Rome. But Keegan, to me still being an active, competitive player, I thought it was quite an aggressive choice,” he said.

“To me, the most surprising thing is the way he’s managed to play over the last 12 to 18 months with a Ryder Cup on his shoulders and everything that goes in. All the activation with corporate sponsors and all the planning and everything that goes into the modern day Ryder Cup. It’s such a massive thing, trying to create the environment for the players. Hotels and locker rooms and clubhouses, and just everything that we know goes into a Ryder Cup.

“So the fact that he’s been able to play the way he has, and obviously, play his way into this position where if it’s another captain, is Keegan Bradley on the 12? I think most people’s opinion is absolutely. He played to a level where he is one of the 12 players who should be going to Bethpage Black next week as a player.”