American rookie wins battle of styles

By Brendon Hanley Aug 15, 2011, 2:08 GMT

Atlanta, Georgia - Keegan Bradley won the PGA Championship in his debut major tournament, showing plenty of nerve and talent to catch and defeat fellow-American Jason Dufner in a play-off at the punishing Atlanta Athletic Club.

The dream of equalling Ben Curtis at the 2003 Open by winning a major in his first-ever appearance seemed far away on the 16th fairway, when Bradley was five strokes behind Dufner, who had been a picture of composure as an unlikely leader to that point.

But the explosive Bradley birdied 16 and 17, the latter with a 45-foot putt, and Dufner, trying for his first tour win of any kind, put up three consecutive bogeys to leave the pair even at eight under after 72 holes.

Full of confidence, Bradley went right at the 16th hole in the play-off and sank a short birdie putt there for the second time in 30 minutes, while Dufner almost holed his approach but missed his putt.

'The course is so tough that you can't leave it safe. I knew that if he got a big lead he might get a little tight coming down the end,' said Bradley, who was one under on his day before hitting an iron within three feet at 12 and holing his eagle putt.

'I am really proud of the way I played. It was the best I have ever played.'

It was the second tour win for Bradley, who also won the Byron Nelson earlier this year in a play-off and spoke after the event about his two key birdies on 16.

'At the tee on 16, I was completely calm, and I absolutely striped it down that hole,' he said. 'Playing that hole in regulation and in the play-off, I will never forget it the rest of my life.

'It was so exciting.'

For a player that showed moments of brilliance but was often up and down during the week, Bradley was surprisingly consistent in running through the last two holes at par with a single stroke lead.

It was an impressive performance by the 25-year-old at the end of a gutsy round by the son of a teaching professional and the nephew of former LPGA great, Pat Bradley.

His triple bogey on 15 seemed to end his chances after he chipped into the water from behind the green, but the explosion by the crowd after he sank his putt on 17 and moved to within a stroke of Dufner seemed to tilt the tournament in his direction.

Dufner had been an amazing three-under on the last four holes through the first three rounds, and he said that he was focused coming down the stretch in regulation.

'I was thinking about trying to win this thing,' Dufner said before addressing the three-bogey stretch at 15, 16 and 17 that ate up his lead.

'They're tough, tough holes. Everybody struggled on them. I had the lead, and I was unfortunate to struggle on them also.'

He also admitted that he was ultimately ambivalent about his performance in the end.

'I am disappointed, but I am excited because I had a great finish at a major,' said Dufner, who missed the cut in each of his last four events before opening the PGA with a par round before a 65 on Friday.

'I have a feeling I am going to have some more chances to close out a win at a major or another event.'