Bradley snaps 6-year drought as runner-up Rose goes top

AMERICAN Keegan Bradley snapped a six-year US PGA winless skid on Monday, parring the first playoff hole to defeat new world No. 1 Justin Rose for the BMW Championship crown.

Bradley won his fourth career title, his third in a playoff, to deny Rose his third triumph of the season even though the runner-up effort was enough to see the Briton atop the rankings for the first time in his career.

Rose lipped out a 15-foot par putt at the 72nd hole to shoot 3-under-par 67 and match Bradley, who closed with a 64, on 20-under 260 at rain-softened Aronimink in Philadelphia in a final round delayed a day by showers.

Bradley, the 2011 PGA Championship winner, had not won since taking the WGC Bridgestone Invitational. It was also his first title since abandoning the controversial belly putter.

“A lot has happened to me over these six years,” Bradley said.

“The belly putter was a tougher transition than I thought, and I kind of fell off the radar there for a little while.”

Rose, unlike Bradley, will be among five players who can claim the US$10million season playoff crown by winning in 2 weeks at the season-ending Tour Championship in Atlanta.

Americans Billy Horschel and Xander Schauffele shared third on 261 with Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy on 262. Tiger Woods, a 14-time major champion, produced a closing 65 to share sixth place on 263 and ensure himself a spot in the 30-man finale.