Aronimink Gave Keegan Bradley Hope Again. Now He’s Back Vying for a Second Wanamaker

As an immature teenager, Keegan Bradley wasn't exactly on my list of favorite players. His pre-shot routine—squatting and spinning the club—and his leftward lean after every shot drove me nuts (for reasons I still can't explain). And for those reasons alone, I couldn't root for the guy.

But I've done a complete 180.

At the time I didn't know that, like myself, he was from New England. I didn't realize he was our guy. Combine that with the fact that I haven't met many players better than him in all my years years covering this sport, and I'm all the way on the Keegan Bradley bandwagon. And, of course, Bradley understands the importance of the responsibility bestowed on him to be a good ambassador for golfers from the three-season states up north.

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"I even went out on my deck today when I was at my house and I could smell, like, the Northeast. I could smell the grass," he said Monday during a pre-tournament press conference at the PGA Championship. "I take extreme pride and I feel a lot of weight to represent New England and the Northeast in the golf world, because there's not that many of us. I feel like I have a duty to the younger generation and people that are growing up to show them that, you know, we can compete from being around here."

This week, the former U.S. Ryder Cup captain is back at Aronimink, the site of his 2018 BMW Championship victory. According to him, that win meant more to his career than his 2011 PGA Championship title.

"I was in a really, really dark place with my putter," he said, "and this was the first glimmer of hope that I had. You know, when you put yourself in positions to win and you succeed, magical things can happen."

But it wasn't just the renewed confidence with the flat stick that made that week special. He also recalled a moment from the final round when his childhood hero was just a stone's throw away as he chased his fourth win and first in six years.

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"I was on the 8th green and it's adjacent to the 10th green and I'm in the final couple of groups and I'm leading the tournament, and on the 10th green was Tiger Woods in his red and black," he said. "I looked up at the leaderboard and he was one back of me. I remember thinking, this is so crazy that I'm in this spot again and there's my idol and he's trying to chase me down and he's right there. It was just a moment that I was really proud that I put myself back in position to be there."

While the focus this week is on Aronimink and the year's second men's major, whenever Bradley finds himself in front of a microphone, he's asked about Bethpage Black. After struggling for months following the loss, he's finally feeling better. But for a man who cares about the Ryder Cup as much as anyone in golf, the biennial event is always on his mind—despite his attempts to take a step back.

"I'll be 41 when (the Ryder Cup in Ireland) happens," he said. "But what a cool story it would be. How fun would that be? I've sort of resigned myself. Ryder Cup's just so brutal to me over the years in every way. In every single way it's been brutal, and I have a tough time focusing in on something like that because of how tough it's been…I told myself after Rome I was never going to get that emotionally invested. I was going to play my game and try to get on the team. But I'd really like to make that team in Ireland. I'd really love to play for Jim Furyk, who is an idol of mine, but also became a great friend and mentor. Getting to know the guys—the guys on the team last year changed my life. Changed who I am as a person, and I would love to play on a Ryder Cup team with them."

If he keeps posting good finishes, Furyk will have to consider him.

Bradley is coming off a T-19 at the Truist Championship, and in April he tied for 21st at the Masters and 12th at the RBC Heritage. He may be approaching 40, but the man from Vermont still has serious game.

And if he wants to all but stamp his passport, a win on Sunday would do the job. He's playing well and has won on this Donald Ross design before.

Anything can happen.