CROMWELL, Conn. — Keegan Bradley didn’t even need a playoff.
Trailing Tommy Fleetwood by one stroke as he stepped to the 18th tee box at TPC River Highlands on Sunday, Bradley birdied the 72nd hole of regulation and Fleetwood missed a seven-foot par putt. It helped grant Bradley the come-from-behind thriller, and marked the second time he has won the Travelers Championship in the last three years.
The New England native stuck his approach shot from 137 yards out to within six feet on the par-4 18th hole. He drained the walk-off putt for his fifth birdie of the day, hearing rowdy cheers of “USA! USA!” in reference to Bradley’s standing as the United States Ryder Cup captain.
Bradley carded three backside birdies en route to a 2-under 68 on the final round. He concluded 15-under on the tournament.
Fleetwood, who held a two-shot lead over Bradley and playing partner Russell Henley entering the final round, shot 2-over par 72 on Sunday and concluded 14-under. Fleetwood looked like someone who knew he gave it away, the bogie on the final hole one of a handful missed opportunities. Fleetwood started the final round by bogeying three of his first four holes, and added two backside bogies on the par-3 16th and 18th.
Henley tied for second place after carding a 1-under 69 on Sunday. Scottie Scheffler tied for the best round of the day at 5-under 65, but ultimately ran out of time. He finished in a tie for sixth place along with Rory McIlroy at 12-under par.
Bradley went into the back nine with plenty of momentum after he drilled a 64-foot birdie putt on the par-4 9th hole. He made a 37-foot birdie putt on the par-4 15th hole, which cut his deficit to two strokes behind Fleetwood.
Story continues below advertisement
Fleetwood could’ve potential sealed the deal should he have converted a 7-foot birdie putt at No. 14. Fleetwood overshot the green on the par-3 16th, and his chip out of the green sailed past the hole. It cut Fleetwood’s lead to one stroke over Bradley.
All told, the door was left open and Bradley stormed right through it in front at home.
Featured image via Bill Streicher/Imagn Images
