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Sports

Bradley Completes Comeback to Win 93rd PGA

Five down with four holes left, Keegan Bradley responded by forcing a playoff and defeated Jason Dufner in extra holes.

Keegan Bradley appeared to be finished with four holes remaining in the 93rd PGA Championship. He was five shots behind and past the point of running out of time when he produced the most stirring finish of any recent grand slam event.

Bradley made birdies on the 16th and 17th holes and watched as Jason Dufner made bogeys at No. 15, 16 and 17 to force a three-hole aggregate playoff. Bradley won the first two extra holes and wound up defeating Dufner by one shot to win his first major championship.

When he knocked in a one-footer to win the tournament, Bradley responded with several emphatic fist pumps. Seconds later he was joined on the green by his family for a massive group hug. Minutes later he was in the media interview area, taking a photo of the crowd of reporters with his cell phone.

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“It seems like a dream and I'm afraid I'm going to wake up here in the next five minutes and it's not going to be real,” Bradley said.

Bradley became the first player to win his debut in a major championship since Ben Curtis won the 2003 British Open. It's only the second time that someone has accomplished the feat in the United States; Francis Ouimet did it in 1913 to win the U.S. Open. He became the first American to win a major since Phil Mickelson claimed the 2010 Masters. He earned $1.445 million for the victory.

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The outcome appeared quite unlikely late Sunday afternoon. Dufner stood on the 15th tee with a five-shot lead, as Bradley had just made a triple bogey on the green in front of him. By this time the engravers were getting close to etching Dufner's name on the Wanamaker Trophy.

“It was pretty remarkable the way I played,” Bradley said. “It's the best golf I've ever played and, man, it was so exciting.”

Bradley didn't quit and Dufner didn't close. Bradley made a birdie at No. 16 and No. 17 and Dufner made bogeys at No. 15, 16 and 17. Tied after 72 holes, the two men faced a three-hole playoff starting at No. 16.

Bradley won the first two extra holes and had a two-shot lead going into the perilous 18th. But the outcome was almost moot when Bradley's approach shot cleared the water fronting the 18th hole. Dufner made his birdie, but Bradley calmly two-putted for a par and the win.

“Hats off to Keegan coming in there in the last three holes in regulation,” Dufner said. “Just a little disappointed right now, especially at 16 and 17. Those are the ones that kind of stick out to me.”

Bradley won't have to worry about qualifying for majors next year; he's now exempt for all four. And he moved up 20 spots in the FedEx Cup playoff standings and now stands fourth, with an excellent chance to get to East Lake for The Tour Championship in September. Bradley, who now has two wins, may also have clinched Rookie of the Year honors.

“This is unbelievable considering the fact that 2½ years ago I was playing on the Hooters Tour, grinding for survival to keep playing,” Bradley said. “It's amazing what comes with winning a PGA Tour event. I have no idea what comes with winning a major right now.”

Related Topics: PGA Championship 2011

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