Contemplating what occurred within the weeks main as much as final yr’s Ryder Cup at Marco Simone, you might not pen a greater script for this yr’s ending at Royal Montreal.
Keegan Bradley went from being snubbed to clinching the successful level, defeating Si Woo Kim within the sixth match of the day, 1 up. Bradley’s win offers the Individuals their tenth straight win within the Presidents Cup, persevering with their dominance over the Internationals on this competitors.
“That was unimaginable,” Bradley mentioned after on the 18th inexperienced.
“I used to be saying all week I didn’t know if I’d ever get to do that once more. To play on this match after which to win the [clinching] level, my goodness, the final time I performed, I used to be the purpose to lose the Ryder Cup.”
Bradley had not performed on an American workforce since 2014, when the Europeans trounced Crew USA at Gleneagles in Scotland. That Ryder Cup is finest remembered for what occurred afterward, as Phil Mickelson eviscerated Tom Watson’s captaining methods within the post-round press convention whereas sitting subsequent to Watson and the whole workforce.
Bradley was 28 years outdated then, and he thought he would play on many extra groups sooner or later. However these alternatives by no means got here—till this week in Canada.
“I missed the fellows. The fellows, they’re simply unimaginable,” Bradley mentioned.
“They actually love one another. The wives and the caddies love one another. It’s such a tremendous ambiance. I’m simply so pleased with the workforce, and I’m pleased with simply being right here.”
Bradley performed in solely three matches this week for Captain Jim Furyk, however he received two factors for the Individuals, a formidable accomplishment since he sat out two classes.
His victory on Sunday proved distinctive as properly. His opponent took over the Presidents Cup on Saturday together with his Steph Curry-like celebration, and Kim gave Bradley his all on the entrance 9 on Sunday. Each gamers made three birdies over the primary 9 holes, however Kim walked to the tenth tee with a 1-up lead.
Then, Bradley received the tenth, eleventh, twelfth, and 14th holes, making three birdies over that stretch to open a 3-up lead with 4 holes to play. It appeared all however sure that subsequent yr’s Ryder Cup captain would win his match, however Kim refused to go away. The South Korean received the sixteenth and seventeenth holes, forcing the match to go to the 18th with Bradley holding a 1-up lead. However Kim couldn’t get his birdie to attempt to drop, thus giving the Individuals the total level and the Presidents Cup victory.
“I discovered that I can nonetheless do that. It’s all the time arduous. It all the time is,” Bradley mentioned.
“That was actually uncomfortable there on the finish. However I’m pleased with the way in which everybody performed at this time.”
Now, Bradley will get to sit up for subsequent yr at Bethpage Black, the course he is aware of just like the again of his hand because of his enjoying days at St. John’s College in close by Queens. He says he’ll make use of techniques like those Furyk employed this week. In the event that they show profitable once more, maybe Bradley will go from being the Presidents Cup clincher to being the victorious Ryder Cup captain in a 12-month span.
That may be some story, wouldn’t it?
Though this story of redemption—one which started with a heartbreaking telephone name from Zach Johnson one yr in the past—can be a fairly good story.
Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Taking part in By. Remember to take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You’ll be able to observe him on Twitter @jack_milko as properly.
