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KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. — Early yesterday morning, Mark Bradley sent his son Keegan a text message: It read simply: “Never forget where you came from.”
It was a simple reminder that despite winning the WGC-Bridgestone at Firestone on Sunday and the 2011 PGA Championship in his first major at the Atlanta Athletic Club, Keegan Bradley must never forget his roots. It’s what has put him on the cusp of being golf’s next superstar.
It’s not just about being humble, his father Mark was saying yesterday at the Ocean Course on Kiawah Island, where the 94th PGA Championship begins tomorrow. It’s about growing up in Woodstock, Vt., population: 3,232.
“They’re a tough breed up there,” Mark Bradley said. “They don’t take any stuff from people. They’re a tough lot and he’s got that Northern Yankee in him.”
It’s about remembering when he was a competitive skier as a kid and raced slalom events from the top of the mountain.
“There’s no scarier place in all of sports than standing at the top of a giant slalom when the course is icy and you’re all alone and it’s freezing cold and you’re in that starting gate,” his father said. “It’s a lonely place, but it will make you tough. He did that for years and years.”
It’s about remembering when the family lived in a travel trailer and Keegan was going to the golf course with his dad who was the local club pro.
“I grew up going to work with him and seeing what PGA pros have to do every day, run tournaments and try to play golf and please members and do all that stuff,” Keegan said. “I know what these guys go through and I know what it takes to be a PGA professional.”
It’s even about remembering he’s from St. John’s and not one of those golf schools in Florida, Texas and Arizona, where the weather is always warm and the tans last year round.
“It was such a great school for him to go to,” Mark Bradley said. “The coach got him on Winged Foot, and Bethpage. At first I was saying, what about Florida and Georgia and some of these other places, but it was a blessing that he went to St. John’s.”
And it’s about remembering how he overcame a triple-bogey at the par-3 15th at the Athletic Club with back-to-back birdies and eventually won a three-hole playoff against Jason Dufner to capture his first major championship in his first appearance in a major.
“It definitely changed the way I look at myself as a player,” Keegan said. “Not as a person, but as a player. I realize that I can stand up and play well under the pressure of a major championship and that means I can play well in tournaments and win.”
The victory at Bridgestone was his first since winning the PGA Championship. But he made the cut in the three previous majors this year and has four top-10 finishes. He’s fourth in the U.S. Ryder Cup points standing and should be among the eight to automatically qualify.
“This win on Sunday was big for Keegan, and now I expect the flood gates to open,” said Mark, who is the head golf pro at the Jackson Hole Golf and Tennis Club in Jackson Hole, Wyo. “He’s really looking at this week with interest. He wants to defend and he wants to win. His head’s in a good place right now.”
Mark Bradley was not at the Athletic Club last year. He had a member scramble to run in Jackson Hole. But he wasn’t about to pass up the chance to join his son at the Champions Dinner last night. The menu Keegan planned consisted of Maine lobster with filet, corn on the cob and ice cream sundaes.
“I think that’ll be good,” Keegan said.
Even the menu makes you realize he’ll never forget where he came from.
George Willis’ PGA picks
Adam Scott: His mental makeup will be tested after his collapse at the British Open.
Keegan Bradley: The defending champ is coming off a big win at Bridgestone.
Hunter Mahan: This could be his first major moment.
Jason Dufner: He’s poised to avenge his playoff loss to Bradley last year at the Atlanta Athletic Club.
Louis Oosthuizen: The 2010 British Open champ could be the one to break the streak of 16 winners in the last 16 majors.
george.willis@nypost.com