Phil Mickelson’s close acquaintance likely to prove beneficial for Keegan Bradley as the season heads for the Masters
Young American golfer Keegan Bradley is savouring his growing ties with the grizzled veteran Phil Mickelson as the duo are often seen together practicing on the courses ahead of the events on PGA Tour.
Bradley, winner of the 2011 PGA Championship is considered an expert in the usage of Belly Putters, the club which played instrumental role in his victory in the last major event of the year.
Mickelson, winner of no fewer than four major titles, is interested in learning the use of the putter and is currently taking lessons from the young player.
Bradley said, "I seem to go play with Phil, he gives me a good beating and I play really well the week after".
He continued, "It's more intense playing against Phil in a match than it is out here. I don't know why, and it seems to relax me in some way or make me feel more comfortable. I seem to play good golf".
For the moment, Bradley is wrestling to keep pace with his blistering debut last year when he landed three professional titles all over the world.
Declared PGA Tour Rookie of the Year, Bradley is the grandson of the LPGA Hall of Famer Pat Bradley and comes from a family of golfers and sportsmen.
Mickelson has already landed a title on the PGA this year, when he won the star-studded Northern Trust Open, defeating Tiger Woods in the final round, but Bradley is finding it difficult to carry on with his blazing form this year.
In his seven starts this season, he has managed only one joint 12th at the Honda Classic and is all set to step on the coveted Augusta National for his first bid of the Masters.
The 25-year-old Woodstock native came under scathing criticism for his frequent use of the Belly Putters when he landed the PGA Championship in his debut on the PGA.
Rejecting all criticism so far, the young American continues to use the putter frequently, stirring the golf critics all over the world.
He won the HP Byron Nelson Championship earlier last year and also won the lucrative PGA Grand Slam in Bermuda, knocking off Rory McIlroy in the final round.
He also clinched the Franklin Templeton Shootout, paired with countryman Brendan Steele.
Bradley was off the pace since the start of the current year and carded his strongest finish for the year so far at last week’s WGC Cadillac Championship. He finished for a strong joint eighth.
He is most definitely gearing up for the first major of the year, the Masters at Augusta National and will be hoping to bag the title at the start of his professional career.
His association with Mickelson is likely to prove beneficial, as the veteran has won the title three times in his professional career.
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