HP Byron Nelson on PGA Tour comes to an end, Keegan Bradley edges past Ryan Palmer
This year’s HP Byron Nelson Championship at the TPC Four Seasons turned out to be a disappointment for the leading PGA Tour players when rookie Keegan Bradley snatched the title on the playoff hole from the fast approaching Ryan Palmer. Bradley has never
won on the PGA Tour and the victory will go a long way in strengthening his position in the international golf arena.
The 24-year-old Bradley bagged the title just eight days ahead of his 25th birthday. Bradley comes from a well known family of golfers and his aunt Pat Bradley is one of the legendary figures in the LPGA. She won 31 times on the tour and also
bagged six major titles during her tenure.
Ryan Palmer, who has performed consistently in the tournament and had been leading all three previous rounds, failed to read the high winds on the final day and closed with a score of 72. The first playoff hole turned out to be decisive as Bradley parred
the hole while Palmer shot in the water hazard and later fell in for a bogey. Palmer was accompanied by his caddie James Edmondson who continuously suggested the player on his approach shots and drives. Palmer, although a Texan himself, does not have an encouraging
record on TPC Four seasons and had decided to follow the caddie-c*m-coach in later and spirit.
“I was excited after Wednesday because I shot my lowest round on this golf course and then I shot the lowest round on Thursday, and I said wait a minute, I like this golf course now. After Thursday I knew how to play it, what James and I were doing was working
so I had a good feeling that we were going to have a good week after Thursday's round for sure.” Palmer was later talking to the reporters.
Sergio Garcia, one of the top ranking participants of the tournament, also slumped down the leaderboard after his disappointing final round score of 77. Garcia, despite having a battered finger nail, remained in contention for the top slot in all four days
in the tournament, eventually finishing tied for 20th.
The 31-year-old Spaniard, who is the 2004 winner of the event, has not won a title since 2008 and is desperate to break the curse. He pulled out from the British Open Qualifiers last week due to his injury. Currently ranked beyond Top 70 in Official World
Golf Rankings, Garcia has exhausted all his chances to be a part of the US Open field next month.
Defending champion and last month’s runners up at Masters, Jason Day struggled in the tournament and finally made his charge in the final round to post three-under, 67 to finish for outright fifth. Ryuji Imada and Joe Ogilvie finished one shot behind the
leaders. Bradley collected the winner’s share of $1,170,000 out of the total purse of $6.5 million. He also earned 500 FedEx Cup points for his victory.
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