Keegan Bradley makes Ludvig Aberg claim ahead of BMW Championship showdown

US Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley says Ludvig Aberg will be one of the best players in the world for the next 20 years after taking the 54-hole lead at the BMW Championship. 

Bradley has been in superb form at Castle Pines Golf Club in Colorado this week and is on 12-under, one stroke clear of Adam Scott. 

Swedish duo Aberg and Alex Noren are two strokes adrift of the lead. 

Bradley carded an entertaining round of 2-under 70 on Saturday with eight birdies and six bogeys. 

He is no doubt relishing the Ryder Cup showdown with Aberg.

The winner will receive $3.6m and the top 30 players in the FedExCup standings will advance to next week's season-ending finale at East Lake. 

"I think that he's one of the best players in the world now, and he will be for the next 20 years," Bradley told reporters of Aberg ahead of the final round.

Aberg briefly held the lead but had to settle for a third round score of 1-under 71.

"I think he's such an impressive player, great guy, and somebody that we're going to have to deal with for as long as he's out here," Bradley added. 

Bradley was referring to the fact Aberg will likely be a thorn in his side when the Europeans take on his Team USA next September in New York. 

Bradley has been extremely popular with the crowd this week and was serenaded with chants of 'USA' on Saturday. 

"It's just incredible," Bradley said.

"Being the Ryder Cup captain is such an honour, and it comes with such a heavy weight of the world, the United States, the players out here.

"But when you get to feel that energy from the fans, it's really special.

"I haven't felt that since I played in the Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup, what I felt out there today. That was really cool."

He added: "I honestly wasn't expecting this. 

"But I love when we come and play in markets that we don't come to, and you can just tell the fans are really excited.

"For now, I feel like I need to carry the torch for the United States Ryder Cup team, and I hope I'm doing that."

Elsewhere, four-time major champion Rory McIlroy is in a tie for 9th on 5-under.

Xander Schauffele is five strokes behind the lead. 

World number one Scottie Scheffler is way down the leaderboard in a tie for 35th on 1-over. 

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