[PHOTO: Christian Petersen]
It already was a year to remember for Keegan Bradley but it became even more memorable on this day, in this place, when he was a captain marvel.
Six weeks after he was named captain of the 2025 US Ryder Cup team, Bradley, 38, demonstrated a game still good enough to compete with the best by winning the BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club. The irony is that with this victory he played his way into consideration for a spot on this year’s US Presidents Cup team, a year after he was snubbed for a place on the 2023 US Ryder Cup team.
“I think being the Ryder Cup captain has put me into this category of sort of player when they haven’t really had a Ryder Cup captain that’s been playing full-time on the tour,” he said. “One of my goals was to make that Presidents Cup team. So we’ll see. I hope I didn’t throw a huge wrench in everybody’s plans, but I’m proud to be in consideration.”
A week ago, Bradley was certain he would fall short of having enough FedEx Cup points to qualify for this 50-man field. He was even in the process of booking a flight home to Florida from Memphis at the conclusion of the FedEx St Jude Championship. Instead, he qualified for the 50th and last spot in the field.
The champ signs off from @BMWChamps 🤳 pic.twitter.com/N1rPAxnlSy
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 26, 2024
“I’m in a bit of a state of shock because there was a time a week ago about this time that I didn’t think I was going to be coming here,” he said. “I had to have a lot of magical things happen for me to just play in this tournament, and when I got here, I was so grateful just to be here. I played with a real sense of calm all week, which is not the norm for me. I’m really proud of the way that I played.
“I didn’t think, to be honest with you, when I started this week, I’d be going to Atlanta. So what a treat this is now. I’ve got to really change my focus to have a chance to win this FedEx Cup.”
Bradley, who jumped from 50th to fourth in FedEx Cup points, began the final round with a one-stroke lead over Adam Scott. One hole in, they were tied, with Bradley opening with a birdie and Scott an eagle.
From then on, he had to withstand challenges from Scott, Sam Burns and Ludvig Aberg, who all tied for second. The shot that won it for Bradley was his second at the par-5 17th, which led to an easy birdie.
“That 5-iron was as pure of a golf shot as I’ve ever hit,” he said. “I had 222 [yards] to the hole adjusted with the 10 percent [for playing at altitude], and I hit my 5-iron about 212 yards. It was a little downwind, but on the previous hole I hit 7-iron for 195 adjusted and it just went forever. I think I was a little jacked up. So we just decided to rip that 5-iron, and I was aiming at the tongue of the bunker, and I hit it right there.
“It’s one of those moments when you realise you can hit these shots in contention when it matters most, and to be able to pull that shot off, for me that was the shot of the tournament and a shot that I’ll remember forever.”
A two-putt birdie gave him a two-stroke lead with one hole remaining. He bogeyed the 18th, but won by one with a final-round 72 and a 72-hole score of 12-under-par 276. The victory was the seventh of his PGA Tour career and second in the BMW Championship, which he also won in 2018.
He has now won tournaments in three consecutive years, putting to rest the notion that better days were mostly behind him.
“Well, I know the people that elected me to be the Ryder Cup captain didn’t feel that way,” he said. “They made that clear to me. Not that I really cared what they think. I’m proud to be the Ryder Cup captain. I would love to be a playing captain. No one has really had the opportunity that I’ve had. I think you could have given Phil or Tiger a chance to be captain at my age and they would have played on the teams. But it’s never really had a chance to happen.
“It’s going to be really hard for me to make that team, but if I make the team I’ll play I don’t see myself being a captain’s pick. I’ll be proud to just be the captain. If I have to go out there and play, I’d love to do that, too. I still feel like I’m in the prime of my career. I feel like I can still keep playing at a high level for a while.”
