Sir Nick Faldo put Keegan Bradley on the spot with Ryder Cup instruction

Sir Nick Faldo told Keegan Bradley to step down as US Ryder Cup captain to his face just weeks before the 2025 tournament. Decision day is looming for Bradley, who has been toying with the idea of becoming the first playing captain in the biennual showpiece since Arnold Palmer in 1963.

With the six automatic spots decided, Bradley will announce his six captain's picks on Wednesday for the showdown against Team Europe at Bethpage Black in New York at the end of September. Those picks could include Bradley himself, given the world No.13's excellent form this year. However, the pressure of both playing and captaining would be immense as Team USA looks to reclaim the trophy they surrendered in Rome two years ago.

Prior to last month's Open Championship, Faldo, who captained Europe during their defeat in 2008, urged Bradley to effectively give up the captaincy and delegate to his vice-captains. During his impromptu appearance on the Bradley asked: "You think you can do both?"

Faldo replied: "No, you designate... you've got enough vice-captains. If it was me, I would play first, give up the captaincy and say, 'I'll have it again [in the future], mate.'"

Slightly lost for words, Bradley said: "I don't know if I have the power to do that! As the process has gone on - I've gotten the vice-captains - I do feel more comfortable playing. There's still such a long way to do."

When Faldo pointed out the time "will go just like that," Bradley then added: "The thing is, I don't have someone to ask questions about this. I can't ring up Arnold Palmer [the golf legend died in 2016] and ask how he did it in '62 but I have good people around me. It's a big decision to have, for sure."

With just days to go before the big announcement, Bradley still appears to be undecided, calling it the biggest decision not just of his career, but of his life. He said, via the Associated Press, at the PGA Tour Championship: "I promise you we're going to make the best decision for the team, and it's going to be controversial either way. I'm ready for it. I know this is the biggest decision of my life."

Two of the captain's picks appear to have been decided after Justin Thomas and Collin Morikawa were invited to a dinner hosted by Bradley that included the six automatic picks of Scottie Scheffler, JJ Spaun, Xander Schauffele, Harris English, Russell Henley and Bryson DeChambeau.

Bradley was in a tie for 14th after two rounds of the Tour Championship in Atlanta, seven shots off the lead held jointly by Tommy Fleetwood and Henley.