After tying for 59th on the FedEx St. Jude Championship, newly minted Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley had no thought if he would advance within the FedEx Cup Playoffs.
He teetered across the fiftieth place within the standings, the edge that sends the highest 50 gamers to this week’s BMW Championship and, extra importantly, to all eight Signature Occasions subsequent season. It’s an enormous deal for PGA Tour professionals, particularly for Bradley, who has an enormous job over the following 12 months.
“The highest 50 is without doubt one of the most essential numbers for us as gamers so we will play in these large tournaments and earn FedExCup factors,” Bradley defined.
“I need to be with the fellows and the Ryder Cup group. I need to be taking part in with them, on the vary with them, within the locker room, within the event.”
Tom Kim’s heartbreaking collapse over the ultimate three holes on Sunday despatched him packing for the season whereas it gave Bradley life. Subsequent yr’s captain made the highest 50 on the quantity regardless of taking part in poorly in Memphis.
“Sunday afternoon was one of many hardest afternoons of my PGA Tour profession. It was actually brutal,” Bradley mentioned.
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“I had the FedExCup standings, the protection on, the featured holes, my cellphone. I had all of it going. Nevertheless it was robust.”
Bradley then flew out to Colorado on Monday. As quickly as he received to Fortress Pines, Bradley started to work on dialing in his numbers and rising accustomed to the altitude. In doing so, he felt a sense of tranquility fall over him.
“It’s such a reduction to be right here. I simply felt so much calmer at present,” Bradley mentioned.
“However I performed actually, very well.”
Certainly, Bradley fired a 6-under 66 on Thursday, a spherical that featured six birdies and no bogies. He led the sphere in strokes gained approaching the inexperienced, which traditionally has not been his sturdy go well with. Discovering fairways all the time helps with discovering greens, although. One all the time results in one other, as Bradley discovered the brief grass 12-of-14 instances on Thursday. He then hit 16-of-18 greens in regulation, rating first among the many discipline throughout spherical one.
“You must put the ball within the fairway on this course,” Bradley mentioned.
“In case you put the ball within the fairway, you’re going to have lots of scoring golf equipment. You’ve received to have a great grasp in your numbers with the altitude. We did a great job of that at present. You’ve simply received to hit as many fairways as you may.”
Ought to Bradley proceed to play nicely, he’ll undoubtedly make it to Atlanta for the Tour Championship. Solely the highest 30 gamers within the FedEx Cup standings make it to East Lake. However he has 54 holes between every now and then.
Then once more, Bradley has already achieved his purpose—simply being right here within the first place.
Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By means of. Make sure to take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You possibly can observe him on Twitter @jack_milko as nicely.
