Winning the PGA leads to a hectic day of 'crazy stuff'
By Helen Ross, PGATOUR.COM Chief of Correspondents
ATLANTA -- Keegan Bradley was supposed to be moving into his new two-bedroom waterfront condo in Jupiter, Fla., on Monday.
Instead, he spent the morning doing radio and television interviews after winning the PGA Championship less than 24 hours earlier. Not until Bradley boarded a private plane for the slightly delayed journey to south Florida did he get some peace and quiet to reflect on the whirlwind ride, just him and the Wanamaker Trophy in the passenger seats.
Bradley's stirring comeback from five strokes down with three holes remaining Sunday at the Atlanta Athletic Club has clearly captured the imagination of media and fans alike. Even Bradley sometimes has a hard time believing it happened.
"As soon as I woke up and looked at the trophy I started laughing," he said. "It's hard to really put into words. I know that's what a lot of guys say but it's really true. I think back to some shots, it's amazing I was able to pull them off. I look at the replays on the video of the tournament and I look at that person and I don't know who that is. I was in a different place, I was in a different mind set."
Bradley's Monday started in a black stretch limo where he called ESPN's "Mike & Mike in the Morning" show and the Golf Channel's "Morning Drive." He did several more telephone interviews in the garden of the Intercontinental Hotel before sneaking about five minutes to call his aunt, Pat Bradley, the LPGA Hall of Famer.
Aunt Pat won 40 times, including six majors, three of which came the year her nephew was born. With every victory, Pat's mother rang a cow bell at their home in Massachusetts, and on Sunday evening, Pat -- who was so nervous she had to watch the TV coverage alone -- continued the tradition with a shipping bell.
"Every time I talk to her I can't believe how excited she is for me to win," Keegan said. "... She told me she was very very proud, that she was just glad to be able to watch it. She was most proud of how I came back after that triple bogey at 15.
"She's just one of my heroes and to be kind of able to talk to her about winning a major, which we've both done, is ridiculous. It's pretty cool."
So was the call from the World Golf Hall of Fame. Curators have asked Bradley to send a replica of the belly putter he used to win the PGA -- the first non-traditional putter to ever contribute to a successful major championship run -- so it can be displayed in his aunt's locker at the museum in St. Augustine, Fla.
On Monday, the real putter was back in Bradley's golf bag, while the Wanamaker Trophy remained close at hand. He'd had the full-sized replica since Sunday night, and the real thing made the short trek over to the CNN Center with its handler, white gloves and all.
Radio personality Dan Patrick didn't believe the Wanamaker Trophy was actually in the limo. So Bradley handed the cell phone to his public relations manager, T.R. Reinman, who tapped the receiver ever-so-gently against the big and shiny silver cup. Like Patrick, Bradley is equally star-struck.
"It's overwhelming almost," Bradley would say at lunch between bites of a steak. "Just about a half-hour ago, looking at that trophy and thinking Ben Hogan, who's my guy - my dad used to read me stories about (him). I idolized the guy. I've got pictures at my house of Ben Hogan.
"And I'm looking at that trophy and I thought Ben Hogan has had that in his house. He's held it. It's just ridiculous, That's the only thing that comes to mind. I can't believe that my name's going to be on that trophy. It's just great."
When the limo arrived at the CNN Center, Bradley remained inside for a few minutes to finish a call. A group of tourists who appeared to be speaking Spanish amused themselves by posing for photos in front of the long black car and were totally oblivious when Bradley stepped out.
When Bradley, who wore gray pants, a blue-and-white shirt and a white visor loaded with logos, stopped at the registration desk, video of his post-tournament interview could be seen on one of the three TVs above the counter. The CNN Center, as might be imagined, has no shortage of television monitors and about every 10 minutes or so you could see highlights of the victory.
One live and two taped interviews later, Bradley was finally able to sit down to lunch in a private dining room at Dantellas. He was flanked by two print reporters and seamlessly handled their questions while also fielding three other radio calls, including to one of Bradley's favorite sportscasters, Jim Rome.
Bradley seemed amazed, as well as personally gratified, by all the attention he has received. "Crazy stuff," he called it. The 25-year-old has gone from about 3,000 Twitter followers to 10 times as many, and he's had more than 1,000 friend requests on Facebook. He estimated he's gotten between 250-300 text messages, only about a third of which he's been able to read so far.
Phil Mickelson, Bradley's frequent practice round and toughen-up partner, said "some very nice things" in his text while Lefty's caddy Bones Mackay left a more traditional voice mail. The text Bradley received from his good buddy Chris Kirk "probably meant the most of anybody," he said, adding "It's amazing to have people so genuinely happy for you."
Bradley also managed to speak to Camilo Villegas between interviews on Monday. A text message that the Colombian, a three-time PGA TOUR winner, sent to Bradley prior to the final round of the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational was pivotal in the PGA victory a week later. Bradley was among the leaders that day at Firestone before stumbling with a 41 on the back nine.
"He just said, you know, Keegan, I played with you and I think that you are a great player and I don't think you know how good you are and I do," Bradley recalled. "Coming from a guy like that it's unbelievable. He said something's going to happen in the final round that's going to test you and at the WGC I just crumbled, and it was terrifying for me. ...
"Two nights ago, he texted me again and he said, I want you to re-read that text I sent you. I mean every word and he said a few more things. And after I made that triple I remember thinking of Camilo and how something is going to test you and it's the guys who can come back from it that win tournaments. And I was lucky enough to put that behind me."
Bradley said his father Mark, a PGA of American professional in Jackson Hole, Wyo., was "beside himself." Father and son have talked twice for a total of about 10 minutes, but there will be time to share the victory with his extended family, including Bradley's "good luck charm," his 10-month-old nephew A.K.
Monday night, though, was earmarked for festivities in Jupiter. Jamie Lovemark, last year's Nationwide Tour Player of the Year who has been sidelined this year with a back injury, and Bradley's roommate John Curran, picked him and the Wanamaker Trophy up at the airport.
"We'll test that jug out tonight and see if it can hold some things," Bradley said with a grin. "I probably will pour a couple of Stellas in there and drink that down."
Maybe later this week, Bradley will have some time to move into his new condo -- "I'm too young to buy a house," he explained. Of course, had Bradley known he'd be $1.445 million richer, he says he might have opted for three bedrooms instead of just two.
By the middle of the week, though, you can bet Bradley will be back on the practice range. After all, the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup are on the horizon, and the New Englander starts the four-event series that will decide the winner of the $10 million bonus ranked fourth. With all that at stake, Bradley doesn't think it will be hard to get back to business.
"It's why we play -- to win tournaments and to win majors," Bradley said. "That's why whatever happens is going to be great. I love it. I'm fulfilling a dream of my life and whatever happens I'm going to enjoy it.
"I think it'll be a little easier than people think just because I'm so crazy. Once Wednesday comes around I'll be starting to think I'm playing here in a week. I've got to get it together and get back out there. I'm a mental case when it comes to that. ... Just because I won this week doesn't change anything about me. I'll just keep going."
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