Keegan Bradley, 12 hours removed from winning the PGA Championship, on Monday morning stretched across the seat of a limousine. He was being driven from a Buckhead hotel to CNN headquarters for several TV appearances. The trip came during radio phone interviews, one after another.
Along for the ride were his manager, a PGA tour official and a reporter -- and another far more important passenger. Placed on a seat, and strapped in with a seat belt, was Bradley’s replica Wanamaker Trophy, the spoils of a playoff win in golf’s final major of the year. In another 12 hours, the silver chalice would be filled with an adult beverage and shared with friends, including roommate and fellow pro Jamie Lovemark.
The real Wanamaker Trophy, with three handlers, followed in a less conspicuous car for the on-camera interviews. The aftermath of a major championship is frenzied.
“It’s overwhelming almost,” said the 25-year-old Bradley, who grew up in the Northeast. “Just about a half hour ago, I’m looking at that trophy and thinking Ben Hogan, who I’ve idolized, had this in his house. He’s held it. And it’s just ridiculous. That’s the only word that comes to mind. I can’t believe my name is going to be on that trophy forever.”
In interview after interview, the engaging Bradley relived his victory over Jason Dufner. He told the Dan Patrick Show he wanted to play golf with Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and throw out the first pitch at a Red Sox game. By lunch, tour officials had nearly completed the arrangements for the baseball game.
He agreed to donate the red belt he wore Sunday. He was stunned to learn the Hall of Fame wanted a duplicate of his putter; they will put it near the display of his aunt, Pat Bradley, a six-time major winner. At 9:45 a.m., he finally stole a few minutes to speak to his aunt. Bradley opened another phone interview with Jim Rome by telling the host he was a big fan.
After winning the PGA Championship minutes before 8 p.m., Bradley didn’t finish with media requests, including the Golf Channel and ESPN, until after 10 p.m. He was back at his rented townhouse at 11 p.m. He tried to go to bed at 2 a.m., but said he never really fell asleep. Alone in his room, with the trophy within eyesight, he finally had a moment for reflection.
“As soon as I woke up and I looked at the trophy, I started laughing,” Bradley said. “It’s hard to really put into words. I know that’s what a lot of guys say, but it’s so true. I think back to some shots and it’s amazing I was able to pull them off. I look back at the replays of the tournament and I look at that person, and I don’t know who it is.”
His phone was proof enough of his accomplishment. He estimated he received nearly 300 text messages and had gone through about 100 by midday. He went from 3,000 to nearly 30,000 followers on Twitter. There were more than 1,000 friend requests on Facebook.
He managed to speak to his father “twice for a total of 10 minutes.” There were calls, text messages and voice mails from Phil Mickelson and his caddie Jim “Bones” Mackay, and lots of fellow golfers, such as Chris Kirk and Brad Faxon, the latter asking him to do an interview with a Boston radio station.
While in the limousine, Bradley answered a call from tour pro and good friend Camilo Villegas. “Dude, I totally remembered your text after the triple-bogey!” he said. Bradley took a 6 on the par-3 15th hole on Sunday, dropping him five shots off the lead. When he birdied Nos. 16 and 17, and Dufner bogeyed Nos. 15, 16 and 17, the two were tied.
Villegas had sent Bradley a text message before the final round of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational the week before telling him he had the talent to win. Villegas knew it, so should Bradley. However, something happened in the final round to test the golfer.
“I just crumbled and it was terrifying for me,” said Bradley, who lost a chance to win with a final-round 74.
Villegas sent another text message Saturday night: ‘Re-read that text message. I meant every word of it.’
“After I made that triple I remember Camilo saying something is going to happen to test you,” Bradley said. “It’s the guys that come back from it that win tournaments, and I was lucky enough to put it behind me.”
Caddie Steven ‘Pepsi’ Hale pointed to that moment as key to winning the tournament. “The kid’s got more heart than anybody,” Hale said. “It’s so cool to work for him. He’s got no quit.” Hale showed up for lunch Monday. Although he hadn’t eaten in nearly 24 hours, he came to collect his own souvenir -- the flag from the 18th pin.
Bradley would finally have some time to himself on Monday afternoon. He returned to Florida as the only passenger on a charter flight. He headed home to a new two-bedroom condo on the water. He was supposed to move into the place Monday. Bradley hired an interior decorator to make it look nice. He needs room for his trophy, a 90-percent replica of the real Wanamaker, once it is repaired; a bolt on the base prevented the trophy from sitting level.
“That will be a nice to sit back, put my phone away and think about what happened and what I’ve done,” Bradley said.
Bradley will be back in Atlanta. He rocketed to fourth (from 24th) on the FedEx Cup point standings and is a lock to play in next month’s Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club. He also moved to 29th (from 329th) in the world golf rankings. Bradley found himself talking about winning rookie of the year honors, a goal of his at the start of this season, playing his way onto the Presidents Cup team and maybe winning the FedEx Cup and the $10 million prize.
“I can’t even believe I’m saying that, that it’s coming out of my mouth,” Bradley said.
Bradley has come a long way in two years, when he had $1,000 to his name while playing on the Hooters Tour. There may be more limousine rides to come.
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