Keegan Bradley survived a spate of late bogeys to say an emotional victory on Sunday on the Vacationers Championship, the PGA Tour occasion in Connecticut that the New Englander considers his dwelling event.
Bradley led by six strokes after back-to-back birdies on the eleventh and twelfth and even three bogeys within the house of 4 holes — beginning with a tee shot into the water at 13 — couldn’t forestall him from lifting the trophy and claiming a $3.6m USD / $5.4m AUD prize.
His two-under par 68 was ok for a tournament-record complete of 23-under par 257 at TPC River Highlands, the place he bettered the earlier event report of 258 and beat Zac Blair and Brian Harman by three pictures.
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“That is for all the youngsters who grew up in New England, bought to take a seat by means of the winters and watch different folks play golf,” stated an emotional Bradley, who attended the event in Cromwell, Connecticut, as a toddler. “I simply am so proud to win this event.”
There was a final little bit of drama on the 18th, the place Bradley’s strategy settled beneath a spectator’s folding canvas chair.
However by then the challenges of his rivals had light and a beaming Bradley marched to the inexperienced together with his arm raised in salute to cheering followers.
As low scores continued to proliferate, Blair — taking part in on a serious medical exemption after lacking two seasons with a shoulder harm — grabbed his share of second with an eight-under par 62. Harman carded a second straight 64.
It was a outstanding efficiency from Blair, who has taken up work as a course designer throughout his 21-month harm lay-off and had a weird preparation, taking part in at three iconic programs this week within the build-up to the event.
“Type of went on just a little little bit of a heater,” Blair stated, having performed Eastward Ho, Fishers Island, and Winged Foot in consecutive days.
World quantity 4 Patrick Cantlay utilized some late strain as Bradley started to battle, stringing collectively three straight birdies at 13, 14 and 15 to achieve 21-under, however he bogeyed 16 and 18 to signal for a 67 that left him tied for fourth on 261.
He was joined by world primary Scottie Scheffler, who carded a 65, and Chez Reavie, who trailed by one getting into the ultimate spherical however settled for a one-over 71.
Rory McIlroy, coming off his one-shot loss to Wyndham Clark within the US Open, carded a 64 and was tied with Denny McCarthy on 262.
After three birdies in his first six holes, Bradley appeared like he may very well be poised to interrupt the PGA Tour’s 72-hole scoring report of 253 set by Justin Thomas on the Sony Open in 2017.
He caught his tee shot on the par-three eleventh inside three toes for birdie and rolled in a nine-foot birdie on the twelfth to achieve 26-under.
It was a continuation of the shape he’d proven all week, after working together with his coach within the wake of a missed lower on the US Open.
“One thing clicked on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,” Bradley stated. “I performed nice up till the final 5, six holes and by chance sufficient I had a large enough result in coast dwelling.” Bradley captured his sixth PGA Tour title, an inventory that features a main triumph on the 2011 PGA Championship.
McIlroy referred to as Bradley’s efficiency “superb” given the strain of taking part in in a house event.
“I do know what that strain looks like after I return to Eire and play the Irish Open,” McIlroy stated. “So for him to be doing what he’s doing is basically spectacular.”
AUSSIES FINISH STRONGLY
Min Woo Lee had a wild ultimate spherical, with two bogeys on the entrance 9 combined with three birdies, earlier than turning issues round with two extra birdies on the again 9 to card a three-under 67.
Lee completed in a tie for ninth on 17-under general, incomes him round $850,000 AUD, whereas Lucas Herbert (68) was two pictures additional again on 15-under.
However Adam Scott struggled within the ultimate spherical, carding a one-over 71 to slide to 14-under general.
Cameron Davis had a sensational day, capturing seven-under 63 to surge as much as a tie for thirty third on 11 beneath general, whereas Jason Day couldn’t proceed a stable weekend, carding an even-par 70 to complete tied for forty fifth on nine-under.