Bradley penalized two strokes for extra club

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Keegan Bradley played well enough to be within a shot of the lead Thursday at the Waste Management Phoenix Open;

It was what he and his caddie didn’t do, however, that ended up costing the golfer two strokes.

Bradley carries a 3-iron or hybrid in his bag, depending on the course. After an hour-long frost delay at TPC Scottsdale, though, he and caddie Steve Hale simply forgot to take one of them out of the bag.

WASTE MANAGEMENT PHOENIX OPEN: Leaderboard | Tee times | Highlights, interviews

After putting out on the par-4 first hole for what he thought was a par, Bradley realized he had 15 clubs in the bag -- one more than the allowable limit. The penalty for carrying too many clubs is two strokes per hole, up to a maximum of four strokes.

“I don’t know what we missed to not catch that,” said Bradley, who signed for a 68 instead of 66, the latter of which would have left him just one back of co-leaders Rickie Fowler and Shane Lowry after the opening round. “It sucks.”

For his part, Bradley, who hasn't won since 2012, recovered well. He made four birdies over his next eight holes after the gaffe.  

Bradley’s caddie Steve Hale took the blame, saying, “That’s on me.”

Added Bradley: “He’s a great caddie. We all make mistakes.”