LUKE DONALD has agreed to lift the gagging order on Ryder Cup vice-captains - easing the way for opposite number Keegan Bradley to become a player captain.
That is another sign that fancy their chances of becoming the first team to win away from home since they pulled off the Miracle at Medinah 13 years ago if Bradley takes on a dual role.
Vice captains are banned from handing out advice or making contact with players during matches under the existing rules.
But European captain is prepared to change that, so one of Bradley’s five deputies - Webb Simpson, Brandt Snedeker, Kevin Kisner, Gary Woodland and Jim Furyk - could stand in for him if he is on the course.
European insiders have said Donald gave his approval to the American request because he did not want any “bad blood” between the teams, before they clash at New York’s Bethpage Black cauldron in September.
But privately Donald and his team hope Bradley might take his eye off the ball, while juggling his duties as the Ryder Cup’s first player-captain since Arnold Palmer in 1963.
Bradley had originally said he would only play if he was one of the six USA players to qualify automatically. He insisted he would not be one of his six captain’s picks.
But his stellar form over the last couple of years has seen him climb to seventh in the world rankings.
And even though he slipped from ninth to tenth on the American list after finishing in a tie for 30th place at , he clearly feels he is playing too well to simply stand aside.
Bradley has also confirmed LIV star - who won his second US Open title last year - will definitely be on his team at Bethpage, even though he could fail to hold onto an automatic qualifying spot.
DeChambeau is currently fifth on the points list despite playing a limited schedule.
But he will not feature in any more qualifying events because of his LIV duties, and some of his rivals could leapfrog him during the FedEx Cup play-offs.
Bradley told Sports Illustrated: “Bryson is going to be a very important piece to us winning the Ryder Cup. He brings so much.
“He brings energy, passion but most importantly, he’s one of the best players on the planet.”
