US Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley gained the Vacationers Championship for the second time in three seasons on Sunday, a dramatic last-hole birdie denying England’s Tommy Fleetwood his first PGA victory.
Bradley, trailing Fleetwood by one on the 18th tee, dropped his method to 6 ft whereas Fleetwood was in need of his inexperienced, left himself a par putt from simply inside seven ft then missed it to the fitting.
Bradley then sank his tension-packed birdie putt for the title, capturing a two-under-par 68 to complete 72 holes on 15-under 265 and defeat Fleetwood and American Russell Henley by one stroke at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut.
FOX SPORTS, accessible on Kayo Sports activities, is streaming The 2025 PGA Tour LIVE & Unique | New to Kayo? Get your first month for simply $1. Restricted time provide.
Fleetwood chokes in dramatic ultimate gap | 05:18
For Fleetwood, the Paris Olympic runner-up ranked seventeenth on this planet, it was one other crushing failure after seven DP World Tour wins however none on the PGA Tour, settling for a forty second profession top-10 PGA end.
“I’m upset now, I’m offended,” Fleetwood mentioned. “When it calms down, have a look at the issues I did effectively, have a look at the issues I can be taught from.
“I did loads of issues effectively sufficient this week to win, I didn’t do this, it hurts…Proper now I might like to, you understand, simply go and sulk someplace and perhaps I’ll do, however there’s simply no level making it a detrimental for the longer term actually, simply take the positives and transfer on.”
Fleetwood made a bogey on the par-three sixteenth after lacking the inexperienced and once more at 18 to undergo heartbreak after main a lot of the day.
Requested the place he misplaced it, he confirmed his respect to Bradley’s efforts and couldn’t put his finger on a particular second.
“Don’t know. There can be a pair, actually,” Fleetwood mentioned.
“Perhaps the second shot on the final, perhaps the putt.
“Keegan made birdie, so honest play to him, however nonetheless really feel like from the place I used to be, I ought to at the very least be in a playoff.
“So, yeah, it’s a crappy method to end. Like, 16 and 18, simply disappointing and form of hitting fairly respectable photographs, actually, that left myself with work to do and didn’t clear it up, both of these actually. There was a variety of them.”
MJ Lee provides third Main to ‘HOF profession’ | 01:27
In the meantime, Bradley described his profitable putt as “completely unimaginable” and the shot that whe would “bear in mind probably the most”.
World quantity 21 Bradley, the 2023 Vacationers winner, marked the one-year anniversary of being advised he was this yr’s Ryder Cup captain with a victory that prompted extra questions on him taking part in towards Europe in September at Bethpage Black.
“Go U.S.A,” was his solely reply.
The 39-year-old from close by Vermont treats the lone PGA occasion in New England as his dwelling event.
“I really feel an obligation to play for the individuals of New England and the Northeast and symbolize them and that is the easiest way I can do it,” Bradley mentioned.
Bradley, who sank a 64-foot birdie putt on the ninth gap, gained his eighth profession PGA title, together with a win in his main debut on the 2011 PGA Championship.
MJ Lee – Full Championship Presentation | 03:53
Australian Jason Day and American Harris English, who had 4 birdies within the final six holes, shared fourth on 267 whereas top-ranked Scottie Scheffler and second-ranked Rory McIlroy every shot 65 to share sixth on 268.
At 17, Fleetwood blasted out of a fairway bunker over water to 24 ft whereas Bradley was 41 ft from the outlet and each two-putted for par to ship the drama to the ultimate gap.
At 18, Fleetwood modified golf equipment late and used a wedge from the golf green to land the ball in need of the inexperienced, practically 50 ft from the outlet, whereas Bradley’s nine-iron dropped simply inside six ft.
– ‘Optimistic vibes’ –
Two-time Masters champion Scheffler, who gained his third main finally month’s PGA Championship, went bogey-free within the final spherical.
“Total not a nasty week,” Scheffler mentioned. “I fought again properly at present and posted an honest rating. You bought to restrict your errors and this week I simply wasn’t ready to do this.” McIlroy, who gained the Masters in April to finish a profession Grand Slam, was happy heading into July’s British Open.
“Good, optimistic vibes going right into a couple-week break and prepare for Scotland and The Open Championship,” McIlroy mentioned. “Noticed some optimistic indicators within the sport general, which was actually good to see.”