Keegan Bradley continued his hot play with a wire-to-wire victory at the Travelers Championship on Sunday. He cruised to his victory with a 15-under 265. The picturesque tournament is held at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut. In an exciting conclusion, Bradley made up a three-shot deficit with just four holes to go. He fired a closing 2-under 68 on the day to a raucous home crowd, and that number proved ample.
Bradley, who opened the day with a triple bogey on the par-4 1st, found his rhythm late on. What mattered far more was the way he kept raising his game, and especially how incredibly well he played on the back nine. The highlight may have been his insane 65-foot nearly straight downhill birdie putt on nine. That seemingly penny-drop moment triggered a noticeable boost in positivity for the remainder of his round. He hit important birdies on the 15th and 16th holes. It was his 35-footer on the par-4 16th that really put his comeback in stone as he made his way to the 18th tee.
As he made his way to 18, Bradley had to keep it together. He brilliantly tucked his second shot in just under six feet six inches below the hole. This opened an important window of opportunity to win. And when he knocked in the 6-foot putt he needed to clinch his victory, the crowd erupted.
“Of all the shots and all the putts I hit, I think I’m going to remember that one the most.” – Keegan Bradley
Bradley prevailed and walked away with a jaw dropping $3.6 million award. This win was his first career title in a signature event. This Masters victory is an incredibly rare achievement for the golfer. He turned 39 earlier this month and has now beaten one of the world’s best fields in just the past ten months! Since August, Scottie Scheffler has been unbeatable on the tournament landscape. He’s the only player ranked above Bradley in the Ryder Cup standings to have won more events.
For this team, this championship meant everything. It was the perfect place to celebrate the one-year anniversary of Bradley getting the fateful call to become Ryder Cup captain. After an up-and-down start to the tournament, he demonstrated determination and skill throughout the final round, bouncing back from earlier missed opportunities. He had already lipped out two six footers on the last five holes. In the final analysis, his doggedness greatly contributed to holding the line on the unthinkable.
Bradley’s win at the Travelers Championship is the culmination of a strong run of form as he cements his stature amongst the professional game’s elite. And perhaps most importantly, he can mussel-leak rally from behind in high-pressure situations. This skill is a testament to not just his talent, but his mental toughness. As he moves forward in his career, Bradley’s win will undoubtedly serve as motivation as he prepares for future competitions.
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