Drama, leadership and heartbreak: Takeaways from the Travelers Championship

The Travelers Championship, held last week at TPC River Highlands, brought no shortage of drama. As the final Signature Event of 2025, it offered a much-needed jolt to recent criticisms that golf tournaments have lacked excitement.

Last Sunday more than made up for that, delivering one of the most dramatic finishes in recent memory.

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Keegan Bradley (US), the 2025 US Ryder Cup Team Captain, thrilled the home crowd by edging out Dubai-based Tommy Fleetwood (Eng) by a single stroke. The climax came at the 72nd hole, where Fleetwood had started with a one-shot lead.

Elevated to a Signature Event it brings with it a $20 million purse in 2025, a limited-field, no-cut format, and enhanced opportunities for players to earn valuable FedExCup and Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points.

There are two clear takeaways from this unforgettable event:

Can a Ryder Cup Captain realistically play in the Ryder Cup?

And how did Fleetwood respond to yet another agonizing near-miss?

Bradley was appointed as US Ryder Cup Captain nearly a year ago. He shared that in his first conversation with the PGA of America, there was already a suggestion that both parties hoped he could make the team - not just lead it. But even then, who could have predicted that with just months to go until the 2025 Ryder Cup, Bradley would sit 7th in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) and 9th in the US Ryder Cup standings, just outside the top six automatic qualifiers?

The cut-off for qualification is August 17, after the BMW Championship.

So, can a captain really play?

By the rules, yes. But practically, is it feasible?

The last time a Ryder Cup Captain also played was Arnold Palmer in 1963, which was a completely different era. Today, the role demands so much more: logistical planning, media appearances, team strategy, and managing vice-captains and players in one of the world’s most high-profile sporting events.

Can a player truly focus on both roles?

Bradley has said he would not pick himself but never said he wouldn’t qualify. If he earns his place, the dilemma becomes real.

Vice-Captains - Jim Furyk, Kevin Kisner, Webb Simpson, and Brandt Snedeker - will play key roles if Bradley becomes a playing captain. Team selections, pairings, and management will all need to adapt. The media scrutiny will be relentless.

If the US win, Bradley will be celebrated, regardless of his role. If they lose, critics will say his dual role was a mistake. That’s the nature of the Ryder Cup: high stakes, high reward, and even higher pressure.

Meanwhile, congratulations are due to Tommy Fleetwood for his exceptional performance. Despite the heartbreak of falling short once again in a PGA Tour event, his reaction was a model of professionalism and maturity.

This was Fleetwood’s sixth runner-up finish in 159 PGA Tour starts, along with 42 top-10 finishes. When he walked off the 18th green, clearly gutted, he still stood tall and faced the microphones.

“I'm upset now, I'm angry,” he admitted. “When it calms down, [I’ll] look at the things I did well... I just want to make sure that I can put myself in this position as soon as possible again and try and correct what I did this time.”

Fleetwood, now ranked 13th in the world, once again showed why he’s a fan favourite. The pain of another near-miss will sting, but his resolve and self-awareness shone through. He’s only 34, and many believe his best golf is still ahead of him.

Surrounded by a supportive family, who were with him at the Travelers, Fleetwood has all the tools to come back stronger.

The 2025 season is far from over. Huge events remain, culminating in the Ryder Cup. Here’s hoping Fleetwood gets the win he deserves - wherever in the world that might be.

Good luck, Tommy.