CROMWELL, Conn — Growing up in New England, Keegan Bradley says he wasn’t invited to the big junior events that youngsters from Florida got to play.
That made it all the more special for the Vermont native to win in front of a New England crowd.
Despite a shaky finish, which he said came from the nerves of wanting so badly to win, the 37-year-old broke the tournament record at the Travelers Championship on Sunday for his sixth PGA tour victory.
Bradley closed with a 2-under 68 to finish 3 shots ahead of Zac Blair, who shot 62, and Brian Harman, who closed with a 64.
“This is for all the kids, like me, that grew up in winters and can’t play and would watch the kids from Florida, down South get better, compete, and get invited to the biggest tournaments in the country that I was never invited to,” he said. “I hope that they know that they can come from this area … and still make it in golf.”
Bradley, who went 62-63-64 in the first three rounds, finished at 23-under 257 at TPC River Highlands, a shot better than Kenny Perry‘s previous record from 2009.
With fans chanting his name, Bradley walked up to his ball on the 18th green, sank a 2-foot par putt and threw his arms into the air and let out a yell.
“I can’t even describe what that felt…
