It had to happen and that is a golfer winning a Major Championship using a long-handled putter.
American Keegan Bradley did just that in capturing the PGA Championship in defeating compatriot, Jason Duffner by one shot in a play-off at the Atlanta Athletic Club.
Two years ago Bradley, who is the nephew to LPGA great Pat Bradley, was competing on the ‘Hooters Tour’.
Keegan Bradley proudly lifts the Rodman Wanamaker Trophy. (Photo - Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)
Now the son of a PGA professional, and new World No. 29, is a Major Champion.
And for the first time in a very long time we saw a player wearing a red shirt on the final day of a Major, and it wasn’t Tiger Woods.
Remarkably, with three holes to play Bradley was five shots behind and then won by a stroke over the three-hole play-off against Dufner.
The first thing Bradley did when he attended the PGA Media Centre was to photograph the gleaming Wanamaker Trophy, just a Rory McIlroy had down in capturing the U.S. Open in June.
Bradley was overcome with emotion in first being presented with the trophy, and the PGA of Ameirca’s moderator, Kelly Elbin put it so right when he introduced Bradley: “Keegan, you are no long just Pat Bradley’s nephew anymore. How does it feel to be a Major Champion?”
“Oh, it feels unbelievable,” said Bradley.
“It seems like a dream and I’m afraid I’m going to wake up here in the next five minutes and it’s not going to be real.
“It’s just an honour to be the champion of the PGA Championship. My father Mark, is a PGA pro at Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and it’s just great.”
And when asked in the post round press conference by www.golfbytourmiss what it will mean to Bradley to see his life change, the proud Vermont-born golfer said: “It’s unbelievable considering the fact that 2 1/2 years ago I was playing on the Hooters Tour grinding for survival to keep playing.
“It’s amazing what comes with winning a PGA Tour event. I have no idea with what comes with winning a major right now.
“So it’s an amazing feeling. Golf can be difficult and to know that you’ve got some security for a good chunk of time is very nice to have, but on the same side, you don’t want to get complacent and not work as hard.
“But I’m just going to enjoy it for now and I’ll figure out all the fun stuff probably in a week or two.”
As well, Bradley created history in becoming the first player in the long history of the ancient game to win using other than a conventional length putter.
And while there may be a few raised eye brows among the ranks of officials of golf’s ruling bodies, Bradley was very proud to creat a new ‘first’ in the Majors.
“I’m also very, very proud to be the first belly putter to win a major,” he said smiling.
“I remember people telling me when I first switched, they would go and that nobody has ever won a Major with it.
“And I remember looking at them and saying, ‘Well, I’m going to be the first one to win a Major,’ just joking pretty much. It’s a surreal thing that it’s true.”
