Keegan Bradley. I think we better get used to the name. The manner in which the rookie American won the 93rd PGA Championship at the Atlanta Athletic Club on Sunday shows that he is truly a superstar in the making.
To win a tournament in your first year on the PGA Tour is impressive enough, but the Byron Nelson Classic champion turned what was already a great year into an unforgettable one with his triumph on Sunday. Considering he never won on the Nationwide Tour, from which he graduated to the main tour this year, to win twice is amazing.
What is even more amazing is that Bradley won just one week after his Sunday meltdown at the World Golf Championship-Bridgestone Invitational. He was in contention during the final round, but as Adam Scott turned on the heat on the back nine, he collapsed with a six-over 41 and was left heartbroken.
So, when he got over all that within the next 4-5 days and surged into contention at the PGA Championship, it was remarkable. But Keegan wasn't done yet.
The finest example of mental resilience came on Sunday. Both he and Jason Dufner — the most unlikely names you could have thought as ones who could break the American drought in the Majors — were way ahead of the field in the beginning and playing extremely steady golf.
Then came the last four of Atlanta Athletic Club. In the week, these four holes had tested and frustrated the very best names in the game. Fans and experts were on the edge of their seats in anticipation of how these two would negotiate the final stretch playing under the cauldron that is the Sunday back nine of a Major championship. They didn't have to wait for long. Keegan chipped his second shot on the monstrous par-3 15th into the water, and Dufner hit his tee shot into it. Keegan took a triple bogey, but Dufner recovered well for just a bogey.
Magic began
And that's when the magic began. While Dufner lost his lead by making bogeys on the 16th and 17th, Keegan was outstanding in making successive birdies and tying for the lead playing the difficult final hole. Not only did Keegan par the hole, he also went on to win the ensuing three-hole playoff against Dufner. It was just a fantastic show.
Even as one celebrated the arrival of a new star, you did have to feel for Luke Donald and Lee Westwood. The world number one and number two put up a show worthy of their ranking. But while Donald was completely flattened by the par-3 15th, Westwood just could not get his putter to work despite easily being the best player on show from tee to green.
Jeev Milkha Singh is a three-time champion on the European Tour
