Birdies And Bogeys

August 13, 2011

Shop This Look

Photo By: Andrew Redington/Getty Images

Photo By: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

Photo By: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

Photo By: Andrew Redington/Getty Images

Photo By: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

Photo By: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Photo By: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Birdie: Keegan Bradley

We don't love the long putter, but we do like everything else -- Bradley's swing, his passion, and most of all, his resilience. Five down with three holes to play after his triple bogey on 15, Bradley persisted, first by putting heat on Jason Dufner with birdies on his next two holes, and then when he knocked his approach shot inside of his opponent's en route to a birdie on the first playoff hole. With a big-time game and engaging personality to match, there's reason to believe he'll be around for a while. We sure hope so.

Photo By: Andrew Redington/Getty Images

Bogey: Jason Dufner

Most golf fans couldn't tell him from their pizza delivery guy before this week, but they know him now -- although maybe not for the best reasons. After looking like the 2011 version of Louis Oosthuizen -- a relative unknown who appeared unflappable with the lead -- Dufner will now be known for slow bleeding away a chance at history. Mr. Van de Velde is expecting your call...

Photo By: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

Bogey: Brendan Steele

It was inevitable that one of the young upstarts who entered Sunday in contention was going to falter. It ended up being the 54-hole co-leader Steele, who bogeyed three of his first five holes en route to a 77 and was reduced to tears following his round. Mind you, playing in his first major, Steele deserves credit for getting as far as he did. But there's no guarantee a major opportunity like this will ever come again.

Photo By: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

Birdie: Bunters

From Dufner to David Toms to Scott Verplank, this PGA was affirmation that a player doesn't need to punish the ball off the tee to be a factor, even on a course that played torturously long in spots. In fact, with its numerous doglegs and fairway bunkers, Atlanta Athletic Club was the rare major course in which length was often more a hindrance than a help.

Photo By: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

Bogey: Major-less Stars

Major-less stars: As if Adam Scott, Lee Westwood, Steve Stricker, and Luke Donald won't be tortured enough by coming up short at Atlanta AC, they also had to watch a player with a far-less impressive resume step ahead of them in line. What it proves is in major championship golf these days, seniority doesn't count for much.

Photo By: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

Birdie: Dr. Bob Rotella

Never mind the Chubby Slam, the noted sports psychologist has now won two straight, helping to steer both Darren Clarke and Bradley to breakthrough wins. Something tells us his voice mail is going to be filling up soon...

Photo By: Andrew Redington/Getty Images

Birdie: Robert Allenby

He ended up bogeying three of his last four holes on Sunday, but Allenby's 68 was still enough to ensure a strong finish in the PGA. That's especially relevant given what awaits: coming in 13th on the International Team points list for the upcoming Presidents Cup matches in his native Australia, Allenby gained valuable ground on the two players in front of him, Ryo Ishikawa and Geoff Ogilvy, both of whom missed the cut.

Photo By: Andrew Redington/Getty Images

Birdie: American golf

Tiger is still in disarray and Phil, Furyk, and Stricker are only getting older. But at least now the streak of international wins in majors has been halted at six, and in the case of Bradley, American golf has a player who appears poised for stardom.

Photo By: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

Birdie: High drama

For much of the weekend, this PGA was only slightly more entertaining than a Golf Channel infomercial. Then came the back nine on Sunday, when Bradley was able to chip away at Dufner's commanding lead, and viewers were treated to a gripping final hour. It might not have been between two heavyweights, but it still made for great theater.

Photo By: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Bogey: Golf purists

It was only a matter of time before a player with a long putter was going to break through and win a major. Now that it's happened, you can count on another outcry for them to be banned. Don't count on it happening. If anything, given the number of putts Bradley holed this week, they're likely to be more popular than ever.

Photo By: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Hero World Challenge

GIVE THE GIFT OF GOLF DIGEST+

BUY GIFT

GIVE THE GIFT OF GOLF DIGEST+

BUY GIFT

Birdies And Bogeys

Shop This Look

Birdie: Keegan Bradley

Bogey: Jason Dufner

Bogey: Brendan Steele

Birdie: Bunters

Bogey: Major-less Stars

Birdie: Dr. Bob Rotella

Birdie: Robert Allenby

Birdie: American golf

Birdie: High drama

Bogey: Golf purists

Sections

Support

Services

Magazine

Newsletter

Social

Sections

Support

Services

Social

Magazine