Keegan Bradley\u2019s prospects of becoming the first player-captain for the U.S. squad in the Ryder Cup since Arnold Palmer in 1963 took another step forward.<\/p>\n
Team Europe captain Luke Donald agreed to amend the \u201ccaptains\u2019 agreement\u201d to allow one of Bradley\u2019s assistant captains to act as a de facto captain at Bethpage Black in September if the American golfer was playing during a session, according to a report by The Telegraph.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n Traditionally, only the team captain is permitted to give advice to players during the Ryder Cup \u2014 ranging from what club to use to where to try to place a shot in the fairway \u2014 but the rule change would allow for the designated assistant to step in.\u00a0<\/p>\n Keegan Bradley during the opening round of the British Open on July 17, 2025. REUTERS<\/p>\n \u201cKeegan can only change the overarching contract with Luke and Ryder Cup Europe\u2019s approval,\u201d a source told the outlet. \u201cThe contract between the teams includes things like how many vice-captains a team can have, etc. That is used year on year and captains rarely change that. But Keegan went to Luke with this clause and Luke generously agreed. We don\u2019t want any bad blood between the camps.\u201d<\/p>\n According to the report, Jim Furyk is suggested to be the one who would move into the captain role while Bradley was playing.\u00a0<\/p>\n Furyk had been the captain of the American Ryder Cup team in 2018 when they lost to the Europeans in Paris.\u00a0<\/p>\n Arnold Palmer at the 1963 Ryder Cup. Bettmann Archive<\/p>\n Bradley is currently in 10th in the U.S. Ryder Cup standings with four weeks until the top six golfers earn an automatic spot on the team and then the team captain gets six selections to make.\u00a0<\/p>\n The U.S. squad is hoping that home-course advantage will help them and extend a streak that began back in 2014,\u00a0when the host team has been victorious in the past five Ryder Cups.\u00a0<\/p>\n The last American win came in 2021 when they defeated the Europeans at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin.<\/p>\n The Ryder Cup will be back on American soil this year when it arrives at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, from Sept. 26-28.\u00a0<\/p>\n Team Europe captain Luke Donald. Getty Images<\/p>\n Bradley has already said that he would select himself if he doesn\u2019t receive an automatic bid \u201cif it helps the team.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n