Bradley’s title is bittersweet for new No. 1 Rose
Justin Rose lost out in a play-off to Keegan Bradley at the BMW Championship, but 2nd place was enough to move the Englishman to World No. 1
What happened at the BMW Championship?
The third of the four FedEx Cup Play-offs finished on Monday after heavy rain washed out the whole of Sunday’s play at Aronimink .
But it was worth the wait for Keegan Bradley. He had, after all, gone 2,227 days without a win. That’s just over six years.
It was a tense finish in Pennsylvania. Bradley led Justin Rose by one standing on the 18th tee, but bogey allowed the Englishman, playing in the group behind, a chance. He left 15 feet for a birdie that would have won him the title, but it somehow stayed up.
It was a bittersweet moment for Rose. He was millimetres from winning the tournament but he knew whatever happened in the play-off, he would overtake Dustin Johnson to become the new World No. 1, and just the fourth Englishman to do so.
Rose had the honour. An ugly pull found the left-side rough, while his opponent found the middle of the fairway. Both players missed the green long and right and while Bradley cosied his ball up to the cup to leave a tap-in, Rose made a mess of his approach and, even though he was 48-for-48 with putts inside five feet all week, his subsequent par putt missed on the low side, handing the title to Bradley.
It is the American’s his first win since the 2012 Northern Trust Open, and his first since the anchored putting ban came into play. The former Ryder Cup player led the field in strokes gained-putting, largely thanks to eight birdies in a final-round 64.
Talking Point
A major breakthrough in 2013, Olympic gold in 2016 and now, for the first time in his career, Justin Rose is the new World No. 1.
The third oldest to achieve the feat at 38, Rose has been one of the hottest golfers on the planet for the last 12 months, winning four tournaments since October 2017, including a WGC.
It was five years since his maiden major win at Merion and this week at Aronimink he was just eight miles from that historic site. It was fate for another career-changing moment to happen.
Before the tournament started this week Rose had his sights set on No. 1, even with Dustin Johnson winning three times this season, the Englishman just had to finish solo 2nd or better. Was it ever in doubt.
He becomes the fourth Englishman to achieve it, after Sir Nick Faldo, Luke Donald and Lee Westwood, and all with only 18 days until the first tee shot in Paris.
Best moments
Worth the wait. ?#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/e8YK23OfWG
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 10, 2018
Dad's a winner! pic.twitter.com/MzsXkbhAqM
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 10, 2018
This win means so much. ??@Keegan_Bradley is back in the winner's circle, winning the third #FedExCup Playoffs event @BMWChamps.
It's his first victory in 160 PGA TOUR starts.#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/dBHitGZ2Qr
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 10, 2018
Golf is hard. ? pic.twitter.com/DxAC6aHvr4
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 10, 2018
Rose? ?
Bradley? ☝Advantage Keegan. pic.twitter.com/cFcMblRkKi
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 10, 2018
CLUTCH.@JustinRose99 ties the lead!#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/tj6wO9PrUg
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 10, 2018
Pumped up.@Keegan_Bradley birdies the 71st hole.
He heads to the 18th with the lead.#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/YfvxtU6ZWQ
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 10, 2018
62-70-66-65. ?
Seven birdies today and 13/14 hit @TigerWoods finishes at 17-under par at the @BMWchamps. His lowest score on tour since 2013. https://t.co/jVTVuGgafo pic.twitter.com/OIXAerUdv8
— National Club Golfer (@NCGMagazine) September 10, 2018
Headed to East Lake.#FedExCup pic.twitter.com/CigBQw5efR
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 10, 2018
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Tom Irwin
Tom is a lifetime golfer, now over 30 years playing the game. 2023 marks 10 years in golf publishing and he is still holding down a + handicap at Alwoodley in Leeds. He has played over 600 golf courses, and has been a member of at least four including his first love Louth, in Lincolnshire. Tom likes unbranded clothing, natural fibres, and pencil bags. Seacroft in Lincolnshire is where it starts and ends.
