Is Keegan Bradley the next golf star?
Keegan Bradley is not a born golf superstar. But no one can hold him back from becoming so. He has got an attitude, talent and skills to reach the peak. He has all the chances and opportunities in front of him.
He can turn the factors that matter the most in the game of golf, in his favour. So far, he seems well set on the course. However, it is to be seen how his future golf career speaks of him.
Bradley, a 26-year-old emerging star from golf’s motherly land, the United States, has landed well on the golfing scene.
His performance in the last couple of years is a witness to his achievements. Despite being only 26, he has added a number of elite titles to his resume.
It is not just about how many victories he has scored and how many trophies he has gathered. It is the quick learning ability that he posses that matters the most.
His masterly strokes and calculative shots at this age are an evidence of his future growth potential.
Some of his shots have even amazed his predecessors, like the veteran Tiger Woods. The 14-time major champion, at many occasions, praised the youngster for his talent.
After having shown his skills as an amateur golfer, Bradley turned professional in 2008. He has not looked back ever since.
Right away, he started playing in the reasonably well recognised NGA Hooters Tour, and successes started pouring in his way. The player recorded his first win on the Tour in his fifth appearance, in the same year.
In 2010, he finished in the top-fives in each of the last four tournaments that he played on the NGA Hooters Tour.
His stunning form also became a lucky breakthrough in his career by earning him a full-time playing card for the 2011 PGA Tour season.
It was not just a matter of luck again for him to enter into the next phase of his professional career and success.
He achieved that level through consistent performances and pulling off victories at the right time. He was then fully prepared to capitalize on the opportunity of playing the PGA Tour.
As his critics admit, it was a rare but well deserved chance for him, and he did not let them down.
He started the tour with a win straightaway, as he defeated Ryan Palmer in the playoffs at the 2011 HP Byron Nelson Championship.
This gave enough food for thought to his critics. They projected him earning a chance for a major championship. They were obviously not disappointed in their anticipations in the end.
Bradley not only managed an entry to the major event – the 2011 PGA Championship – he came out as victorious too.
The win also made him the only third golfer to have achieved the honour of winning a major championship in his first attempt, in the history of the sport.
Ben Curtis and Francis Ouimet were the other two, who had been honoured with the wins in their first appearances in 2003 and 1913, respectively.
In 2012, he reached another milestone by winning the first World Golf Championship of his career. He defeated Jim Furyk and Steve Stricker with a one-stroke margin at the 2012 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.
Bradley’s achievements have prompted many experts to declare him as the future Tiger Woods of the game.
However, many do not buy this. They believe that he has the talent and potential to grow even beyond.
They again base their projections on Bradley’s ability and consistency in learning. They see him very sharp and quick to pick up things.
He is a quick learner and a great improviser. His knowledge of the game, playing tactics and techniques make him superior to others.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own and in no way represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
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