Rory McIlroy reveals how Europe have a major advantage the USA in this year’s Ryder Cup amid Keegan Bradley captaincy headache

Rory McIlroy believes the Keegan Bradley captaincy bungle has presented Europe with an advantage heading into the Ryder Cup this autumn.

The PGA of America’s decision to appoint Bradley last July has aged into a rare dilemma, with the 39-year-old surging to seventh in the world rankings and therefore in line to be the first playing captain since Arnold Palmer in 1963.

Given the scale of the modern-day Ryder Cup, such a scenario has caused a major headache for the US ahead of the match at Bethpage Black in September, but unless Bradley causes chaos by resigning he will have to play with divided attentions.

McIlroy, who carded a 65 to sit four off Chris Gotterup’s lead at the Scottish Open on Friday, sees the situation as favourable to Europe. Asked if it would be impossible for Bradley to do double-up, he said: ‘Hopefully it is impossible.

‘Keegan has played great. He’s had a great year. Obviously I’m not in those conversations and from an outside perspective, it’s going to be interesting to see what the US team does with that. I definitely think the US team is better with Keegan playing than not playing.

‘It really feels like it’s a player-led team in America, and obviously we have our input as player on the European team but we do have that one figurehead in Luke Donald. I think that’s important.

‘Going back to Rome (where Europe won in 2023), when the Americans got off to a pretty rough start, I think because Zach (Johnson) gave the team so much ownership, they had no one to look to. They were looking at each other instead of having a focal point. That is something that Europe has done very, very well.’

On the course, Gotterup set a Renaissance Club course record with a brilliant 61 to set an early second-round lead on 11 under par. The American, ranked 158 in the world, shot six birdies in a front-nine 29 before collecting three more after the turn.

McIlroy was similarly destructive, albeit on the back nine, where he built on his three-birdie finish to the first round by adding five in his first seven holes. He played in the inward nine in level par.

As with the opening loop, McIlroy’s putting and scrambling around the greens compensated for a couple of iffy swings. With some form returning to his game ahead of the Open next week, McIlroy said: ‘I’m feeling pretty good. I did a lot of good things today.

‘There a couple of loose shots here and there but overall I thought it was a good day and obviously excited for the weekend right in the thick of things. I’m in contention going into the last two days. Anything you need to work on in your game is going to show when you’re under that sort of pressure trying to win a golf tournament. I’m looking forward to that.’

Englishman Harry Hall, who remains under the radar at home due to his base in Las Vegas, had another strong round, carding a 64 to reach nine under, one ahead of his countrymen Marco Penge and Matt Fitzpatrick.

Fitzpatrick has plummeted to 77th in the world after a slump that began in a poor 2024 season, but his recent weeks have been strong. His round of 63 maintained the trend, though he parked any thoughts of making the Ryder Cup team.

He said: ‘I’m focusing on my own game. I’m not where I want to be in the FedEx Cup right now and, nowadays with how the system works, you’ve got to be in that top 50 and that’s the goal to make sure you are in the top events the following year.

‘That’s really important and I didn’t make the Tour Championship either, so that’s a goal as well. I always feel the Ryder Cup comes as a byproduct of playing well and concentrating on yourself. I fell into that trap in 2016 of getting worked up about the Ryder Cup then got there and barely played a match, so it wasn’t what it was all cracked up to be. But, fortunately, my other experiences have been better.’