Keegan Bradley, who had initially believed his season was over, made a remarkable turnaround by winning the BMW Championship and securing a spot in the PGA Tour’s season-ending event in Atlanta.
A week ago, Bradley was ready to head home to Florida, feeling his chance for the FedEx Cup was lost. However, he secured victory at the BMW Championship, moving from 50th to 4th place in the FedEx Cup standings. With this win, he now has a chance to compete for the FedEx Cup title and a $25 million bonus at the Tour Championship.
Bradley, 38, shot a final-round 72 at Castle Pines to clinch his seventh career win, finishing a stroke ahead of Adam Scott, Ludvig Åberg, and Sam Burns. Despite starting the BMW Championship on the edge of elimination, Bradley’s performance elevated him into the top tier, placing him four strokes behind Scottie Scheffler, the leader in the staggered strokes format used for the FedEx Cup final.
The victory marked a significant turnaround for Bradley, who had been concerned about not making the BMW Championship field and the implications for his schedule in the upcoming season. He was initially disheartened by the thought of missing out on key tournaments and the Ryder Cup, but his win at Castle Pines has ensured his participation in the Tour Championship and major events next year.
Bradley’s final-round performance, which included only two birdies, was sufficient to hold off Scott, who faltered with three consecutive bogeys on the back nine. Scott had a final chance on the 18th hole but missed a birdie putt, allowing Bradley to secure the win with a two-putt.
Alongside Bradley, Scott, who finished 41st before the BMW Championship, Tommy Fleetwood, and Chris Kirk advanced to the Tour Championship. Brian Harman, Jason Day, Davis Thompson, and Denny McCarthy, who were previously in the top 30, did not qualify for the final event of the season.
Bradley expressed his appreciation for the support he received throughout the week and reflected on the significance of his win. “When I do have a chance to—winning on the 18th hole, I’ve only done it seven times, and so I always try to take a second to really enjoy it,” he said.
