Opinion & Analysis

Playing captain Keegan? Why not?

Published

11 months ago

Jul 10, 2025

I’m a sucker for a good headline. In fact, I don’t even need to read the actual article. All it takes is a bit of drama or controversy to fire up my engine. The current polemic on Should he/Shouldn’t he has me absolutely agog with opinion. Should Keegan Bradley be both captain and competitor on the USA side for the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage? I have thoughts.

Let’s put this fact on the front burner: the 2025 Ryder Cup (and all others) is an exhibition golf match. It won’t determine future currencies, geographical boundaries, or human rights. In the grand scheme of human things, it’s not that big a deal. The work that your neighbors do on a daily basis weighs heavier in the arc of human history.

We don’t know, nor should we care, how Keegan’s playing will impact his captaining. We haven’t had a playing Ryder Cup captain on either side since the decade that I was born, and I’m pushing 60. Also, it’s still an exhibition match. It stands to reason that Keegan and his dozen assistant captains (more or less) will have all the pairings and all the plan Bs ready to roll, long before September 26th arrives. They won’t have any invasions or rescues to coordinate, fire hydrants to empty, or perimeters to establish. Keegan will be free to do as he pleases, and he should please to play.

If the USA is in need of a hero, they should invite Scott Ruskan to Bethpage. Ruskan is the 26-year-old rescue swimmer who saved lives this past week in Texas. Ruskan is the fellow that we should emulate, even if our heroism pales in comparison to his. I’m sure that Captain America (Keegan’s alternate persona) would be darned proud and happy to have Mr. Ruskan on his bag at Castle Black.

What would happen, say, if Captain Keegan were locked in a tight match, and a major decision needed resolution? Let’s roll back to that preparation element. Let’s also remember that most decisions are more likely to be advice or encouragement, or motivation. Get Jason Sudeikis or Brett Goldstein on site (actually, Goldstein would probably not want to support Team USA) to roll out some of the best lines from Ted Lasso. I’m a high school coach, and #LassoLines are a steady part of my coaching.

You see, a great deal of deep thought and diligence is not required to determine if Keegan Bradley should choose himself as a player on the USA side. He absolutely should. History demands that we have one in the 2020s, so that when scribes in the 2050s and 2060s and beyond wonder out loud if Seabass Montessori should be the 2059 playing captain, they will have recent history to guide them.

Onward and into history, Captain America. It’s just an exhibition.

Opinion & Analysis

AVL: My U.S. Amateur local qualifying experience

Published

6 days ago

Jun 5, 2026

Andrew Von Lossow

This past Monday, I played in the U.S. Amateur local qualifier at Rock Creek Country Club in Portland, Oregon. A full tee sheet from 7:30 a.m. to 1:55 p.m., the top 11 scores would make it to the U.S. Amateur final qualifying.

I teed off at 10:48 a.m.. With the 7:30 am tee time, you can get a feel for the leaders’ pace, and they were off and running on the challenging setup at Rock Creek.

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Getting to the highlight of the round on the par five 17th, a drive up the left side and 212 yards left to the front hole location. I took out a 5-iron with plans of middle of the green. The ball ended up 8 feet left of the hole, pin high. A slight downhill putt dropped in for an eagle 3 on the 17th. With the cut line looking to be anywhere from -2 to even par. This was the boost I had been waiting for all day.

With making par from the trees on 18, it was time to wait for a potential playoff with a posted score of one under par 71.

Three hours later, it was playoff time. 8 players for 6 spots. I made par on the playoff hole, which was good enough to advance to the U.S. Amateur final qualifying in July. USGA qualifiers sure deliver on all of the emotions in golf!

Club Junkie

Building my 2026 gamer WITB: Ranking the contenders and new putter projects – Club Junkie Podcast

Published

7 days ago

Jun 4, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

The annual What’s In The Bag build is underway, and on this episode of Club Junkie, Brian breaks down the clubs currently leading the race for a spot in his 2026 gamer setup. From drivers and fairway woods to irons, wedges, and shafts, he ranks the equipment that’s performing best and explains what’s separating the front runners from the rest of the field.

Brian also heads into the workshop to discuss several putter projects currently on the bench. From head options and shaft choices to build ideas and testing plans, he shares what he’s working on and which putters could become serious contenders for the bag this season.

If you’re a gear junkie who loves equipment testing, club building, and the never-ending pursuit of the perfect setup, this episode is for you.

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Club Junkie

Tour Edge Exotics mini driver review + TaylorMade Spider ZT Max first look – Club Junkie

Published

2 weeks ago

May 28, 2026

Brian Knudson

On this episode of Club Junkie, I put the new Tour Edge Exotics Mini Driver to the test and break down the performance, forgiveness, distance, and where it fits compared to a traditional driver or strong fairway wood. If you have been curious about adding a mini driver to the bag, this one is worth a look.

I also dive into the new TaylorMade Spider ZT Max putter that was recently spotted and discuss the growing zero torque putter trend. Plus, there is a closer look at the new Project X Titan Yellow shaft showing up on the PGA Tour and what makes it different from other profiles currently out there.