Notes from the PGA Grand Slam of Golf, Bradley wins

Keegan Bradley of the USA during the second round of the PGA Grand Slam of Golf at the Port Royal Golf Course on October 19, 2011 in Southampton, Bermuda. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)

Notes from the PGA Grand Slam of Golf on TNT - October 19, 2011

Keegan Bradley wins the PGA Grand Slam of Golf

PGA Grand Slam of Golf

Port Royal Golf Course in Bermuda

TNT’s broadcast team:  Verne Lundquist (play-by-play), Ian Baker-Finch (analyst), Billy Kratzert (course reporter) and Jim Huber (essayist/reporter)

Professional golf’s four major champions playing in the PGA Grand Slam of Golf:  Charl Schwartzel (2011 Masters), Rory McIlroy (2011 U.S. Open), Darren Clarke (2011 British Open) and Keegan Bradley (2011 PGA Championship) 

Kratzert speaking with Schwartzel on the windy conditions at Port Royal Golf Course in Bermuda and trying to catch leaders Bradley and McIlroy during the 2011 PGA Grand Slam of Golf: “With such a big lead on such a big course like this, you need wind, you need something so the guys don’t go for it. And then, obviously, you have to play well.”

Kratzert speaking with McIlroy on his play through eight holes: “It’s a lot tougher today than it was yesterday. It’s a bonus just to be here. It means you’ve had a wonderful year.”

Schwartzel on the last four holes he played at the Masters that helped him win the green jacket:  “Golf is a funny game.  Sometimes [I] play so good for so many holes.   Sometimes, I get the feeling that I can keep making birdies.  It’s a pretty good feeling.”

Baker-Finch on Clarke:  “He’s like a tropical wildflower.  He blossoms at rare and unpredictable times.  But he is always loveable.”  

Huber speaking with Mark Bradley, Keegan Bradley’s father: “I am very proud of him.  I remember the days when he would come to work with me and just practice, play and enjoy golf.  He just loves it.”

Keegan Bradley sharing his thoughts about his aunt, Pat Bradley, LPGA Hall of Famer:  “It was a cool moment (PGA Championship win) to share with her.  She always seemed mentally stronger than her opponents when she played and that’s what I try to do.”

Kratzert spoke with Keegan Bradley’s mother Kaye Bradley:  “It’s been an exciting year, I can’t believe it.  Keegan has always been extremely focused.  We gave him the ‘playground’ but he had the drive.”

Huber spoke with PGA Grand Slam of Golf winner Keegan Bradley on playing with Clarke, McIlroy and Schwartzel:  “It was really fun.  I have never played with any of them and playing with all the other major champions was an honor.”

Bradley on his rookie season and chances for Rookie/Player-of-the-Year: “Webb Simpson and Luke Donald are doing a good job of trying to block that from me.  I would be honored to win it.  My goal was to win Rookie-of-the-Year so anything that comes after that’s a bonus.”

 

Bradley's victory a perfect storm

Throughout the day Sunday at the PGA Championship, Keegan Bradley appeared to be the most fired up and intense golfer on the course. To me, it looked like he really wanted it more than anyone else.

Even after he chipped his ball into the water at 15 and made a triple-bogey, he didn't mail it in. He immediately came back with consecutive birdies at 16 and 17 to ramp up the pressure on Jason Dufner.

As the two players headed into the playoff, Bradley had all the momentum, played the three holes in 1-under par, and defeated Dufner by one stroke. It was a tough loss for Dufner, but Bradley seemed destined to win this one.

After the round, Bradley credited his famous sports psychologist Bob Rotella with really helping get his mind correct before the tournament began. It goes to show how the proper attitude and mental outlook can help a player win a tournament.

Bradley also mentioned that Phil Mickelson and Camillo Villegas had helped him throughout the week with advice. It can't hurt to have multiple winners providing their past experience.

As if that isn't enough, Bradley is also the son of a PGA teaching professional and nephew to Pat Bradley, a six-time major winner on the LPGA Tour.

It seems Keegan Bradley got help from many angles at the PGA Championship, and used everything he learned to create the perfect storm in winning his first major.

Keegan Bradley: By the Numbers

By winning the 93rd PGA Championship, Keegan Bradley earned his first major championship in his very first start in a major. The 25 year old took home $1,445,000.000, moved into fourth place in the Fed Ex Cup race, and bolted up to 29th in the world rankings.

He's now in a good position to win the $10 million dollar Fed Ex Cup Playoffs and can potentially either earn his way on or become a captain's choice for the Presidents Cup. 

With the win, he earns a lifetime exemption into the PGA Championship, a 5-year exemption into the Masters, the U.S. Open, and the British Open, as well as a 5-year exemption on the PGA Tour. 

He also gets to play against the year's three other major winners (Schwartzel, Mcllroy, Clarke), in the PGA Grand Slam tournament. 

In other words, his life just got a lot more awesome.