After tying for 59th on the FedEx St. Jude Championship, newly minted Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley had no concept 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 a giant deal for PGA Tour professionals, particularly for Bradley, who has a large job over the following 12 months.
“The highest 50 is likely one of the most essential numbers for us as gamers so we will play in these huge tournaments and earn FedExCup factors,” Bradley defined.
“I need to be with the blokes and the Ryder Cup group. I need to be enjoying 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 enjoying 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 Fort 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 the moment,” Bradley mentioned.
“However I performed actually, rather well.”
Certainly, Bradley fired a 6-under 66 on Thursday, a spherical that featured six birdies and no bogies. He led the sector in strokes gained approaching the inexperienced, which traditionally has not been his robust swimsuit. Discovering fairways at all times helps with discovering greens, although. One at all times results in one other, as Bradley discovered the quick grass 12-of-14 occasions on Thursday. He then hit 16-of-18 greens in regulation, rating first among the many discipline throughout spherical one.
“You need to put the ball within the fairway on this course,” Bradley mentioned.
“For those who put the ball within the fairway, you’re going to have loads of scoring golf equipment. You’ve received to have a very good grasp in your numbers with the altitude. We did a very good job of that at the moment. You’ve simply received to hit as many fairways as you’ll be able to.”
Ought to Bradley proceed to play properly, 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 objective—simply being right here within the first place.
Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By way of. Make sure you try @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You may comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko as properly.
