Some things just go together.
Burgers and fries. Rhythm and blues. Keegan Bradley and New England.
Bradley’s three-stroke victory Sunday in the Travelers Championship did more than add another building block in his return to prominence on the PGA Tour. It achieved a long-time dream of winning the tournament played nearest his Vermont home.
“This is for all the kids that grew up in New England. Got to sit through the winters and watch other people play golf,” Bradley said after finishing at 23-under-par 257, three better than Zac Blair and Brian Harman.
“I just am so proud to win this tournament.”
Now a six-time winner on the PGA Tour, Bradley is as New England as clam chowder and maple syrup. Whether it’s the Red Sox, the Patriots or the Celtics, Bradley has a jersey and a collection of personal stories attached to those teams.
That’s why winning at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut, just south of Hartford and a little more than 100 miles from Boston, has always had a special place in Bradley’s heart.
“When I got my PGA Tour card in 2010 going into ’11, the first thought in my mind wasn't to play the majors, whatever. It was, I get to come play Hartford,” said Bradley, 37.
“My first PGA Tour event I ever went to, I came here and watched David Duval play. I remember looking at his tee time and making sure I got here when he warmed up … it was my first real taste of what the PGA Tour was like.”
Bradley went six years between PGA Tour wins, breaking his dry spell with a victory at the 2018 BMW Championship. He added another victory last fall when he won the Zozo Championship by one stroke over Rickie Fowler and Andrew Putnam.
Part of it was adjusting from using a long, anchored putter to a different style. Adding AimPoint to his putting routine has made a dramatic difference, Bradley said, and when he holes a long putt, he presents his putter to caddie Scott Vail as if he is presenting a ceremonial sword.
Though he hadn’t finished better than 10th since a runner-up at the Farmers Insurance Open in February, Bradley has been encouraged about his play.
“This is about as good as I’ve ever played, this week, I would say. But I've been playing great all year,” Bradley said. “Actually been playing good the last couple months. Just had one bad round in there. Almost every tournament the past month I’ve had one really, really solid round.”
Starting the final round with a one-stroke lead over Chez Reavie and having set the tournament’s 54-hole scoring record at 21-under 189, Bradley seized control of the tournament with three birdies in his first six holes, giving him a comfortable lead going to the closing nine.
The victory also thrust Bradley into the discussion as a possible member of the U.S. Ryder Cup team this fall. He played in the 2012 and 2014 matches.
Ron Green Jr.