Keegan Bradley is back in Atlanta. Better yet, he is finally rested after the whirlwind that began here when he won the PGA Championship last month.
Bradley was on a circuit of interviews and special appearances, soaking up life as a major championship winner at the ripe old age of 25, following his win at Atlanta Athletic Club. He even fulfilled the dream of throwing out the first pitch at Fenway Park before a Red Sox baseball game.
“I’d like another chance to enjoy it because I won’t be so nervous,” Bradley said Wednesday after a practice round at East Lake Golf Club in preparation for the Tour Championship. “I can barely remember doing it.”
Bradley is thankful to be back in a normal routine following his career moment. He enters the Tour Championship 20th in the point standings. The FedEx Cup playoffs following the PGA were tough. He missed the cut in the first two events, the Barclays and the Deutsche Bank Championship.
After the off week between events, Bradley tied for 16th at the BMW Championship.
On Tuesday, Bradley got his first look at East Lake. On Wednesday, he played a practice round with Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Chez Reavie.
Sold out but ...
According to tournament general chairman Rob Johnston, the Tour Championship sold out all 25,000 daily tickets for the tournament last week. However, spectators can still attend.
“If there is more demand, we will issue a few more tickets at the last moment,” he said. “We can always accommodate two or three thousand more tickets.”
Local ties
Three golfers with local ties are competing this week, though only one, Matt Kuchar, has what would be considered a good shot at winning the playoffs. In the event’s four-year history, only Jim Furyk has won the playoffs when entering the Tour Championship ranked out of the top five. He began 11th.
Kuchar, a Georgia Tech grad, will tee off at 1:35 p.m. with Brandt Snedeker. Kuchar is No. 5 in the points standings. His winning formula is easy: If he’s victorious his week, he wins the FedExCup.
Georgia alum Bubba Watson will tee off at 12:35 p.m. with Jonathan Byrd. Ranked No. 18, Watson must win the Tour Championship and hope Webb Simpson finishes 12th or worse, Johnson finishes fifth or worse, Justin Rose finishes fourth or worse, and Luke Donald, Kuchar and Snedeker finish third or worse.
Augusta native Charles Howell III will tee off at 11:55 a.m. with Bill Haas. Ranked No. 26, Howell must win and hope Simpson finishes 21st or worse, Johnson finishes sixth or worse, Rose and Donald finish fourth or worse, and Kuchar and Snedeker finish third or worse.
Tour Championship future
Johnston said this is the best he has felt heading into the Tour Championship than the previous 10 years at East Lake. The tournament is no longer anxious for one or two marquee players to make the field. There are a number of young players that have burst onto the scene. Johnston also cited the number of tour veterans, including Ernie Els, who made it a priority to try to advance through the playoffs to Atlanta.
Johnston is still hoping for bigger and better things.
“It’s taken a long time for the FedEx Cup system to be partially understood,” Johnston said. “But are we where I really hope to be? Not even close. I’m really hoping in two or three years we can look back and be mentioned in the same breath as the Players Championship or a major.”
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