With Tiger Woods Out, Keegan Bradley Should Run It Back As U.S. Ryder Cup Captain

In this Fact or Fiction, SI Golf debates the next move for the PGA of America, Gary Woodland at the Masters and the best day to visit Augusta National.

Keegan Bradley's U.S. Ryder Cup team didn't get it done at home, but might the captain get another shot in Ireland? | Brendan Mcdermid-Reuters via Imagn Images

Welcome back to SI Golf’s Fact or Fiction, where we are all making our way to Augusta National next week. Pass the pimento cheese sandwiches.

Once again, we’re here to debate a series of statements for writers and editors to declare as “Fact” or “Fiction” along with a brief explanation. Responses may also (occasionally) be “Neutral” since there's a lot of gray area in golf.

Do you agree or disagree? Let us know on the SI Golf X account.

In the wake of Tiger Woods's crash last week in Florida, he will not be the 2027 U.S. Ryder Cup captain. For the sake of continuity, Keegan Bradley should get the job again.

Bob Harig: FACT. The problem is, does Keegan want to go through this again? The PGA of America was looking for a decision by now. It was getting time to move on anyway and now this makes doing so easier.

John Pluym: FICTION. Woods shouldn’t even be a consideration for captain after what happened last Friday. As for Bradley, he should be among the potential candidates to oversee the U.S. team. However, I don’t think we’re at a point where the captain’s job should automatically go to Bradley. And as Bob said above, does he even want the job? Right now, the Europeans have to be the overwhelming favorites.  

Jeff Ritter: FACT. I think the safe play, and the correct play, is to run it back with Bradley, who was by all accounts a hit in the locker room. Yes, the U.S. strategy on Day 1-2 was questionable, but the team also pulled together on Sunday to make it close. The PGA of America should just call Keegan this week.

Max Schreiber: FICTION. Why run it back with Bradley? If he continues to be a good player, are we really going to go through the whole “will he be a playing captain” again? They might not jump off the page, but what about Stewart Cink, Brandt Snedeker, or running it back with Steve Stricker?

John Schwarb: FACT. The U.S. has to start finding continuity, even if it means bringing back a losing captain. I think Bradley would make some key adjustments this time, such as hiring an analytics specialist similar to Europe’s Edoardo Molinari, and perhaps the road game will somehow take pressure off. Can’t be any worse than the last 30 years.

Gary Woodland’s win at the Houston Open is one of golf’s great comeback stories. It was also a dominant victory leading into major season, making Woodland the best candidate among players 40 and older to win a major in 2026.

Bob Harig: FICTION. Woodland’s ball speed is amazing and he should seemingly do well at Augusta National but he’s surprisingly got a poor record there. Justin Rose has lost in a playoff twice. Adam Scott is also pretty stout.

John Pluym: FICTION. The Woodland story is amazing. And if he wins the Masters, it’d be epic. But Justin Rose’s play has been off the charts. Rose is the No. 7-ranked player in the world, and he consistently plays like it. Rose will be one of the favorites at Augusta.    

Gary Woodland will be warmly welcomed by the patrons at Augusta National. | Erik Williams-Imagn Images

Jeff Ritter: FICTION. Woodland’s story is awesome and he’ll be one of the guys I’ll be pulling for in Augusta. But Rose still looks like the best bet among the 40-and-over set.

Max Schreiber: FICTION. I had been waiting to write the Woodland redemption story for over a year. And perhaps, it was one of my favorite Sunday articles I’ve ever done. But I’m not ready to say he’ll win another major. I echo Jeff’s sentiment about Justin Rose. 

John Schwarb: FACT. O.K., I’ll be a prisoner of the moment. Woodland will find a sense of peace at Augusta National and be able to thrive. His history there is spotty but includes a T14 in 2023, his last Masters before the brain surgery. As for my colleagues picking Justin Rose, I’m not throwing shade on the world No. 7 but I believe it’s hard to bounce back one year after a playoff loss.  

The Masters is next week and thousands will visit Augusta National for the first time, many on one-day passes won via lottery. If a first-time patron could pick one day to attend, and only one, Thursday’s opening round is the best choice.

Bob Harig: FICTION. To truly see the course, the best day is Wednesday because the players are basically done with their prep early and you can linger out there for a while without so many people. For a tournament round, Saturday seems best to me. Many who have tournament badges don’t necessarily go every day. The morning is “relatively” calm on Saturday and offers the opportunity to see the entire course.

John Pluym: FICTION. I made my first trip to Augusta in 2024. It was amazing. I spent Wednesday afternoon walking the back nine with Jeff. I wanted to walk past all of the spots where I saw famous shots growing up as a kid and an adult, including Jack Nicklaus’s curling putt on 16 to win in 1975, Larry Mize’s chip on 11 to beat Greg Norman in ’87, and Mickelson’s legendary shot out of the pine needles on 13, which propelled him to his third Green Jacket. Jeff also took numerous pictures of me on the golf course. I’m not embarrassed to say I was in awe of the experience.    

If you could only go to the Masters on one day, are you picking Wednesday for the Par-3 Contest? | Peter Casey-Imagn Images

Jeff Ritter: FICTION. For a first-timer, I think Wednesday is the sweet spot. You’re allowed to bring a point-and-shoot camera (but no phone, of course) and it’s also the Par 3 contest. One of the hidden benefits of the Par 3 is that it leaves the big course mostly empty in the afternoon, creating prime time for a long, quiet stroll and an opportunity to take an album full of beauty shots.

Max Schreiber: NEUTRAL. As someone who hasn’t been there yet, I really don’t have an opinion. I’ll defer this answer to my colleagues. 

John Schwarb: NEUTRAL. In my fan days at tournaments, I was partial to Thursdays and Fridays in order to see everyone in the field with smaller crowds (not that you get a break at the Masters from crowds on any day). But this would depend on my company; if I could get my mother on the property I’d choose a practice round to walk the entire course in a more relaxed manner and we’d be able to take pictures.