Bradley wins PGA tourney in a playoff
Keegan Bradley had bottomed out, crashing from the high of winning the PGA Championship to tumbling out of the top 100 in the world. His chances to represent U.S. teams in international play had dried up, his preferred putting method was banned, and the confidence that once put him on the cusp of greatness was shot.
“It’s scary when I look back, because I didn’t know I needed this much improvement,” Bradley said.
He was like a scientist in the lab, changing his swing, his putting stroke, his fundamentals investing in the work needed to get to where he was Monday on soggy Aronimink: going head-to-head in a sudden-death playoff against the new No. 1 player in the world, Justin Rose.
For a player who had to reinvent his game, the clutch moment didn’t seem so scary.
Bradley topped Rose with a par on the first playoff hole to win the rainplagued BMW Championship for his first PGA Tour victory in six years.
Bradley’s fourth career win meant a bit more than the others, yes, even the major he won in 2011 because he held more than a trophy and a $1.62 million check. He also got to give his young son Logan a victory toss in the air on the 18th green for the first time. Bradley, who shot a final round 6-under 64 to finish at 20-under 260, thrust his arms toward the gray sky and drizzle in celebration and waved his family toward him to bring them in for a lengthy embrace.
“I’ve won before, and I win and I finish, and I go home, just me,” Bradley said. “Now, I get to go back and we get to have fun and enjoy it together. It’s just a completely different experience.” FINAU ADDED TO RYDER CUP TEAM >> Tony Finau has been named to the Ryder Cup team, the final pick by U.S. captain Jim Furyk. Finau joins Bryson DeChambeau, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods as Furyk’s four wild-card selections.
College football
HURRICANE COULD AFFECT GAMES >> With Hurricane Florence bearing down on the Carolinas’ coastline, conferences and schools are monitoring the strengthening storm’s progress and exploring contingencies for games this week. The National Hurricane Center issued an advisory that the storm is expected to approach the North or South Carolina coast Thursday as an “extremely dangerous major hurricane.” That would be the same day that Wake Forest hosts Boston College in an Atlantic Coast Conference matchup, and two days before six power conference schools host nonconference games in the Carolinas and Virginia.
For now, the teams are moving forward with gameweek plans until told otherwise.
“We’re expecting to play and proceeding and planning like we will until somebody says we won’t,” said North Carolina State coach Dave Doeren, whose Wolfpack hosts No. 14 West Virginia. “That’s really the best we can do in this situation.”
Florence had strengthened into a Category 4 storm by Monday afternoon with maximum sustained winds near 130 mph, according to the hurricane center. Its projected path appears headed through the center of North Carolina but could also veer through South Carolina and Virginia.
NHL
VEGAS EXTENDS PACIORETTY >> The Golden Knights wasted little time in making sure Max Pacioretty will be around for the long haul after pulling off the trade that is bringing the former Montreal Canadiens captain to Las Vegas, signing the All-Star forward to a $28 million, four-year contract extension that runs through the 2022-23 season. The 29-year-old Pacioretty was entering the final season of a six-year deal. The Stanley Cup runner-up Golden Knights acquired Pacioretty Sunday night for Tomas Tatar, prospect Nick Suzuki and a 2019 secondround pick.
NBA
SUNS STANDOUT HAS SURGERY >> Phoenix Suns star guard Devin Booker has undergone surgery on his right (shooting) hand and is expected to be sidelined for six weeks. He’ll probably miss the first couple of games of the regular season.
TIMBERWOLVES SIGN DENG >> The Minnesota Timberwolves have signed free agent forward Luol Deng, the latest former Chicago Bulls player to reunite with coach Tom Thibodeau.
Motorsports
KESELOWSKI WINS >> Brad Keselowski figured out the secret to restarting at the Brickyard 400. Then he safely and strategically bumped his way into the lead and sped to the finish line.
One year after settling for second in a chaotic, crash-marred race last year, Keselowski redeemed himself by earning his second straight major win and finally giving team owner Roger Penske the elusive Brickyard win. The 2010 Cup champion got past race leader Denny Hamlin on the secondto-last lap and beat Erik Jones to the finish line by 0.904 seconds. Hamlin finished third.
“Last year, I lost this race almost the exact same way. To bring it home this way, after messing up last year, is just incredible,” Keselowski said. “We were hoping this would be No. 500 and the Brickyard, but that’s all right.”