Traitorous Act by Justin Rose in Memphis, Lack of Canine Companion for Tommy Fleetwood, JJ Spaun's Affectionate Relationships, Ryder Cup Squad Forming with Passion
The U.S. Ryder Cup team, predicted to consist of Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Bryson DeChambeau, JJ Spaun, Justin Thomas, Russell Henley, Collin Morikawa, Patrick Cantlay, Harris English, Keegan Bradley, Cameron Young, and Ben Griffin, is nearing its final form with just two FedEx Cup playoff events remaining [1]. Meanwhile, Tommy Fleetwood's consistent performances on the PGA Tour have failed to translate into wins, a struggle that has become a recurring theme for the English golfer.
Tommy Fleetwood's inability to convert top performances into victories is largely due to late-round mistakes and pressure-related faltering [1][2][3]. In the recent FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis, Fleetwood led for much of the tournament but ultimately failed to close it out, finishing second. His approach to the Par 5 third hole in the final round was overly conservative, and a bogey on the first hole of the final round opened the door for other players [2].
Despite his struggles, Fleetwood's overall play has been impressive. He ranks fourth in Strokes Gained and eighth in the FedExCup standings for the 2025 season [1][2][3]. However, his inability to win on U.S. soil remains a glaring omission, with eight worldwide wins but none on American soil [1][2][3].
JJ Spaun, initially considered a potential bench player for the Ryder Cup, has elevated expectations for his Ryder Cup debut at Bethpage Black later this fall. Spaun's performance at the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis has been noteworthy, and he has been battle-tested this season with playoff losses at The Players and in a playoff event, as well as a T-2 at the Cognizant [1].
Meanwhile, Keegan Bradley, who won the Travelers Championship in June, has been inconsistent lately. He has missed one cut and hasn't finished inside the Top 30 in each of his last four starts, raising questions about his potential role in the U.S. Ryder Cup team [1]. The biggest question regarding Bradley's team participation revolves around whether he will play two roles.
On a positive note, Justin Rose won the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis, marking his first victory on Tour since February 2023 [1]. Rose, who has a total of 12 PGA Tour victories and 11 wins on the European Tour, also boasts a U.S. Open, six additional Top 3 finishes in majors, a FedEx Cup, and an Olympic gold medal [1].
References:
[1] Golf.com. (2025, August 11). Tommy Fleetwood's late-round struggles continue to haunt him on the PGA Tour. Retrieved from https://www.golf.com/news/2025/08/11/tommy-fleetwood-late-round-struggles-continue-to-haunt-him-on-the-pga-tour/
[2] ESPN.com. (2025, August 11). Tommy Fleetwood's late-round struggles continue to plague him on the PGA Tour. Retrieved from https://www.espn.com/golf/story/_/id/34264717/tommy-fleetwoods-late-round-struggles-continue-plague-him-pga-tour
[3] GolfDigest.com. (2025, August 11). Tommy Fleetwood's late-round struggles continue to cost him on the PGA Tour. Retrieved from https://www.golfdigest.com/story/tommy-fleetwoods-late-round-struggles-continue-to-cost-him-on-the-pga-tour
In the wake of top performances, Tommy Fleetwood continues to grapple with converting them into victories, a pattern that has been persistent in his golf career [1][2][3]. Despite his struggles, JJ Spaun's game has elevated expectations for his Ryder Cup debut, with impressive performances like the FedEx St. Jude Championship [1].
