Bradley's last-minute schedule change pays off

HAMILTON, Ontario – Keegan Bradley didn’t originally have the RBC Canadian Open on his schedule. But he added it at the last minute, and after his opening round, he’s sure glad he did.

Bradley shot a 7-under-par 63 Thursday at Hamilton Golf and Country Club to take the early lead. This came after he finished last year’s Canadian Open with an 8-under 64.

Related: Leaderboard | Canadian golf in 'best place ... ever'

There’s something about Canada, he said.

“Every time I come to play in Canada, I love the courses we play,” he said. Bradley has played the Canadian Open three times and his worst finish is a T-22 in 2011.

Bradley said he added this week’s event to his schedule in hopes of getting “a little something going” before next week’s U.S. Open after missing two of his last three cuts.

“I'm thankful that I did, but I want to keep going,” he explained. “It hasn't been quite the year I wanted, but that can change real quick.”

Bradley returned to the winner’s circle at last year’s BMW Championship – for the first time since 2012 – and ended the year eighth in the FedExCup standings. He’s currently 72nd.

Bradley started his round with five pars before rattling off the five straight birdies, a streak, he said, was his best ever. His 7-under 63 was his lowest opening round all season, and he hit 17 of 18 greens.

“Today was one of the best of the year, if not the best (ever),” he said of his ball striking. “I knew if I could just put myself in the fairway, which I did today, I was having short irons in, and I'm pretty dialed in right now. I was able to really get that close and then hole those putts.”

Bradley said, for him, it all comes down to the putter. He’s 206th in Strokes Gained: Putting on TOUR this year – while sitting third on TOUR in Strokes Gained: Approach The Green.

He made more than 73 feet of putts Thursday and had it rolling well on Hamilton’s small and slopey greens. He credited an attitude adjustment to his success on the greens in the first round, saying he kept telling his caddie he needed to try not to force putts in.

“Sure enough, right after that, they started going in,” he said.

Although he said Glen Abbey – where they’ve hosted the last four Canadian Opens – was a great course, he loves Hamilton so far. It’s just been one round, but he’s eager to keep things rolling on Friday.

“It was so fun to go out there and feel like that. Today I was in complete control of my ball, and then when you couple that with feeling good on the greens, that's when a 63 or a good, nice round happens,” he said. “Where they're both combined is pretty rare. I've had good ball striking days and then maybe you don't putt as well and shoot a couple under. Today they matched up. Just got to go for it when I that happens.”