One of the major subplots of the FedEx Cup Playoffs, which start this week in Memphis at the St. Jude Championship, is the final push for Ryder Cup selections. In particular, Keegan Bradley's challenge of making captain's picks for the United States squad has gotten even tougher over the past month.

The captain told Sports Illustrated that the event in Napa, Calif., will help prepare players for Bethpage, two years after second-guessing around the Americans’ readiness for Rome.