CASTLE ROCK, Colo. — Keegan Bradley achieved an unexpected triumph at the BMW Championship, a tournament he initially never anticipated he could win. Just a week ago, he was apprehensive, sitting in a Tennessee hotel room with his season seemingly at an end. However, he made a last-minute push into the 50th position in the FedEx Cup standings, securing his spot in Castle Pines for the playoff event.
Turning his anxiety in Memphis into celebration in Denver, Bradley’s journey over the past week has been remarkable. Following a solid even-par 72 final round, he earned a one-shot victory over Adam Scott, Sam Burns, and Ludvig Åberg.
After his victory, Bradley reflected on his feelings: “I can’t even wrap my head around it.” This win marked his seventh career title on the PGA Tour and propelled him from 50th to 4th place in the FedEx Cup standings just ahead of the Tour Championship.
With only a week to savor his achievement, Bradley is now preparing for the Tour Championship at East Lake, where he will start four shots behind leader Scottie Scheffler. The significant prize of $25 million awaits, and Bradley’s victory has opened up opportunities he didn’t envision just days earlier.
Bradley made history by becoming the first Ryder Cup captain to win a PGA Tour event in nearly a decade, having been appointed U.S. skipper six weeks prior. Additionally, he is set to serve as an assistant captain in the upcoming Presidents Cup next month in Montreal.
His recent title bolstered his standing in the Presidents Cup rankings, moving him to 10th place. Although only the top six earned automatic qualification, Bradley has positioned himself as a strong candidate for a captain’s pick when Jim Furyk decides on the remaining spots after the Tour Championship.
“I don’t know where that’s going to go, but I’m happy to play whatever role they want me to play,” said the 38-year-old Bradley. “I hope I didn’t throw a huge wrench in everybody’s plans, but I’m proud to be in consideration.”
Bradley’s solid performance in challenging conditions was crucial to his success. Adam Scott, who was tied for the lead, struggled on the back nine, making three untimely bogeys that ultimately cost him the title.
Burns posted the best score of the day with a 65, while Åberg faltered with a bogey on the par-5 14th. Bradley’s clinching shot came from 227 yards with a 5-iron, landing just 16 feet from the pin, which he confidently converted for birdie to secure a two-shot lead.
Chants of “U-S-A! U-S-A!” echoed from the crowd as they celebrated their Ryder Cup captain, marking a significant moment in his career.
Scott’s last hope for victory diminished on the 15th hole, where both he and Bradley ended up with bogeys despite contrasting circumstances.
Meanwhile, Justin Thomas clinched a spot in the Tour Championship in dramatic fashion, needing help from others to make the cut. After a series of unfortunate events for his competitors, Thomas found himself sliding into the 30th position.
Bradley received a $4 million prize for his victory at the BMW Championship, previously securing the title in 2018. Alongside Bradley, Scott, Tommy Fleetwood, and Chris Kirk made the cut for the Tour Championship, eliminating several players from contention.