Question of the week [Aug. 18-24]: With the U.S. Ryder Cup team's six automatic qualifiers determined, who should round out captain Keegan Bradley's 12-player squad?
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The other six, in no particular order, should be:
7. Justin Thomas. He’s just a bulldog.
8. Ben Griffin. Be sure his creatine suitcase is somehow lost by American Airlines.
9. Patrick Reed. C’mon, this would be awesome with the New York City crowd and Captain America’s penchant for theatrics.
10. Keegan Bradley. This is a golden opportunity to deviate from the boring norm, and to see if a different paradigm pays dividends.
11. Cam Young. Bethpage suits his distance.
12. Patrick Cantlay. He’s seemingly impervious to outside influence, and that will jack up the New York City crowd if given the chance.
Andrew Turnbull
Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
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Maverick McNealy. He’s playing very well and is an excellent putter, which will be a needed asset in alternate-shot competition.
Bob Callan
San Francisco, California
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Keegan Bradley, especially because it's at Bethpage. Cam Young, because it's at Bethpage and he is a New York guy. Sam Burns, because he deserves it and it will keep Scottie Scheffler happy. Patrick Cantley, Justin Thomas and Collin Morikawa.
Art Williams
Luzerne, Pennsylvania
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I don’t believe it matters who Keegan Bradley chooses as his six captain’s selections. The U.S. can’t muster enough strength to defeat the Europeans in spite of the Ryder Cup being played on U.S. soil. That said, selections need to be made so here are my choices in terms of selection order:
1, Patrick Cantlay; 2, Brian Harman; 3, Ben Griffin; 4, Cam Young; 5, Justin Thomas, and last, but not least, Bradley chooses himself.
For me, Bradley choosing himself was never in question. He is a gutsy who deserves to be on the team. Thomas is the huge question mark. It came down to him or Sam Burns with Thomas getting a slight nod due to his experience.
No matter who is selected on the American team, their European foes will make short work of them, in spite of the rowdy "go-in-the-hole" hollering pro U.S. fans.
Paul Vicary
The Villages, Florida
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Justin Thomas: Experience and leadership.
Ben Griffin: Earned a spot with his stellar play.
Collin Morikawa: I have some concerns, but he steps up most of the time.
Cameron Young: Now that he has won, the sky is the limit.
Sam Burns: His putting is a huge asset.
Keegan Bradley: He needs to turn over the captaincy duties so that he can concentrate on playing.
Mel Howsmon
Vancouver, Washington
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My six picks
1. Justin Thomas: Grit and experience.
2. Brian Harman: Ditto.
3. Sam Burns: Always need a putter.
4. Cameron Young: Someone who is hot.
5. Ben Griffin: Earned his way with this year's play.
6. Keegan Bradley: The ultimate player for the time and place.
Captains never play a shot.
Barry Duckworth
Knoxville, Tennessee
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I can tell you who I think should not be on the team.
Until I retired, I was an airline pilot, instructor and FAA-designated examiner. I spent 18 years learning and teaching. During sim sessions, we would set up the sim to induce failures — engine fires, electrical system problems, and hydraulic system issues among other things. The best-managed outcomes occurred when the captain turned over the flying duties to the first officer and the captain managed the process and marshaled the appropriate resources. As I used to tell captains, who attempted to manage the process while also attempting to fly the airplane, in debriefs, "It is difficult to be Mr. Sulu and Captain Kirk at the same time."
This goes for captain Bradley, as well. It will be difficult for him to play and herd 11 other cats at the same time. Assistant captains are his resources, not replacement leaders. Keegan is the boss. That is his job.
Chris Belanger
Cincinnati, Ohio
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KEEP THE PLAYOFFS AS IS
August 10: What to make of the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup Playoffs
At this time I would leave the playoffs and Tour Championship as is. The increased points — and money — created by the relatively new signature events has been effective in keeping the tour’s future intact. FedEx’s investment would be foolish to disrupt.
In my opinion, the attention should be given to the smaller tournaments that are struggling with sponsors, marquee players, course attendance and TV ratings. This is the tour’s biggest short-term challenge and I hope the new CEO can turn it around.
Like other sports, fans love to complain about golf, but TV ratings are climbing back and the thought of going up against the NFL and college football broadcasts and taxing network production assets with tour playoffs would yield smaller TV revenues. So, I am presuming that any radical date changes to the season are currently out of the question.
Steve Moore
Birmingham, Alabama
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If the PGA Tour wants to spice up the playoffs, here’s an idea:
At the end of the first playoff event, have a four-man, three-hole aggregate score playoff to determine the last two places — 49th and 50th — that will advance. Obviously you would also have a playoff to determine the winner, if necessary, such as at the recent BMW Championship.
Then do the same playoff at the end of the BMW Championship to determine the final two places who will advance to the Tour Championship. Then, at the end of the championship event, have another four-man playoff — either three-hole aggregate score or sudden death — to determine the winner among the four highest-placed finishers of the 72-hole event. This would keep viewers watching until the end with so many possibilities in play.
Ron Ariana
Oak Brook, Illinois
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SURPRISE, SURPRISE ... J.J. SPAUN
August 17: Golf's biggest surprise story in 2025 may be J.J. Spaun
The most surprising story in golf for 2025 is J.J. Spaun. Two playoff losses in big tournaments and a big U.S. Open win.
Barry Duckworth
Knoxville, Tennessee
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STOP THE GOAT TALK
August 3: Will Scottie Scheffler join the class of Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus?
Could we please put the GOAT cork back in the bottle?
There will never be another Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus or Tiger Woods. They each made their significant mark in different eras. Scottie Scheffler has had a remarkable run. He works hard, sticks to business and presents himself in a first-class manner. If his run continues for another three to four years (or longer), then he likely will be included with the five names mentioned above. Until that happens — and hopefully it will — he’s a very accomplished player on a great run.
John Gardner
Fort Myers, Florida
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Front: U.S. captain Tom Watson, right, and Keegan Bradley at the official USA team photos on prior to the 2014 Ryder Cup.
Photo: Eoin Clarke | Golffile