Ross Kinnaird

Sunday wasn’t so much a win for Keegan Bradley at the Travelers Championship as it was the culmination of a life-long pursuit. Yet the dream had barely set in on the 18th hole before Bradley turned his attention to another dream, one he considers unfinished business.

With his second victory of the 2022-23 season, Bradley is now squarely in the mix for the United States Ryder Cup team, ranked seventh in the American standings with less than two months to go before automatic qualification ends. Bradley has played on two American Ryder Cup teams and quickly became a crowd favourite at the event, not afraid to reciprocate the emotion and vigour of those outside the ropes. “That’s one of the reasons why I love the Ryder Cup, because you let it all out at all times,” Bradley said on Sunday.

However, Bradley has not been a part of the Ryder Cup since 2014. Asked if he’s had a moment to think what his Travelers victory will do for his chances to make the American team, Bradley nodded his head in approval.

“Yeah, I mean, it is the first thing I said to my wife walking up to sign my card: This is a pretty big step towards doing that,” Bradley said about making the team. “I’m 37 years old. I hope to play in multiple more. I don’t know how many more with everybody so good and the younger kids, just the team is incredible.

“I still got a lot to show the captain. I would love to go to Rome and be a part of that team.”

Despite ranking seventh in the current standings, a lot remains in Bradley’s path. Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas are outside automatic qualifying, and both are considered near-locks to make the team. Same with Collin Morikawa. Rickie Fowler is making a viable case for inclusion. Cameron Young, Tony Finau, Sam Burns, Harris English and Dustin Johnson are other formidable candidates with recent Team USA experience.

Conversely, the projected team is short on veterans (at least in terms of age) and the status of LIV Golf members for the United States still remains unclear. Should they not be allowed—thus knocking off Brooks Koepka from automatic qualification—Bradley could find himself representing the red, white and blue.

Bradley has scored four points in seven Ryder Cup matches. He was also a part of the winning Presidents Cup team in 2013.