MOLORI UNPLUGGED
By John Molori
Keegan Bradley: a portrait of passion and preparation
O
F THE MANY NORTHEAST GOLF STARS, there are few who shine brighter than Woodstock, VT native Keegan Brad-
“Normally, I am used to hitting the shots I need under pressure. I just didn’t do it on that occasion. I am getting my-
ley. Born into golf royalty as the son of PGA pro Mark Bradley
self in the hunt more and more. That’s what I like, and that
and the nephew of World Golf Hall of Famer and LPGA leg-
is giving me a lot of confidence.”
end Pat Bradley, Keegan Bradley has forged his own brilliant
Confidence is a word that has not been used a lot for any
career on the PGA TOUR
of us since March of
since his rookie year of
2020. The specter of
2011.
COVID-19 has changed
A consistent champi-
lives throughout the
onship threat week in
world. “COVID has
and out, the 34-year-old
affected everyone differ-
Bradley discusses where
ently,” says Bradley.
his game is currently.
“It has forced every-
“My game feels really
one to do things differ-
good right now,” says
ently, so it is just a case
Bradley, who lives in
of adapting to change.
Jupiter, FL. “It really has
On a personal level, it
been trending in the
meant I got to see my
right direction for the
family a lot more, which
last few months.”
was nice. On a profes-
Indeed, at this year’s
sional level, it probably
Valspar Championship
resulted in my game
at Innisbrook, Bradley
stagnating without the
set the pace for much
competitive reps, but
of the tournament with
I am close to where I
scores of 64, 66, and 69
want to be right now.”
in the first three rounds. With a final round score of 71, he finished in second place, three strokes behind Sam Burns. An errant shot on the
“Normally, I am used to hitting the shots I need under pressure. I just didn’t do it on that occasion. I am getting myself in the hunt more and more.
Bradley set the pace for his career early, winning the 2011 PGA Championship at the Atlanta Athletic Club. It was a thrilling tour-
13th hole spelled doom for Bradley’s championship hopes.
nament with Bradley besting Jason Dufner in a three-hole
It was a tournament from which he could take away many
playoff for his only major championship.
positives as well as learning points. He explains, “I played really well all week on a very de-
He has also posted PGA TOUR wins at the 2011 HP Byron Nelson Championship, the 2012 World Golf Champion-
manding golf course, I love it there. I hit one bad shot at the
ships-Bridgestone Invitational, and the 2018 BMW Cham-
wrong time, and it cost me the tournament.
pionship. Bradley has competed in and won several New NORTHE AS T.GOL F | JU N E / JU LY 2021
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