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JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — You were probably thinking exactly what I was thinking as Rory McIlroy injured his wrist slamming his 7-iron on a tree root Thursday, as Tiger Woods missed the cut Friday and as Phil Mickelson faltered every time he got himself close to contention all weekend.
You were thinking “buzz-kill” — the PGA Championship was headed for a dull finish with no star power to ignite interest.
There is an insatiable appetite for star power in sports, and golf has spoiled fans with the dominance of Woods with Mickelson and others making occasional visits to the throne of greatness.
So — no disrespect intended — Keegan Bradley and Jason Dufner dueling it out on the back nine at Atlanta Athletic Club was not the masterpiece theater envisioned for the last major of the year.
Yet the two served significant notice of how great the game is even without the biggest stars shining. Bradley’s electric comeback from five shots down in his final three holes over Dufner was a sign of the times — a good sign.
It is possible neither Woods nor Mickelson will win another major. I believe both will, but the current trend is not pointing in that direction.
So golf fans better get used to — and embrace — the new guard, possibly led by the likes of the fearless and fresh-faced Bradley, who insisted after his win Sunday he would not become one of those one-hit wonders.
“I don’t want to be one of those guys that kind of disappears,” Bradley said, referring to the likes of previous major winners Shaun Micheel, Rich Beem and Ben Curtis without naming names. “I would love to be up in the category with the best players and be mentioned with Phil Mickelson, one of my idols. I hope I don’t disappear. I don’t plan to.”
With the powerful combination of his ball striking and keen mental outlook, the 25-year-old Bradley — a St. John’s alum — figures to be a fixture for a while as a leader of the new guard. He is not alone.
“The PGA Tour is so deep,” Bradley said. “The top players are not dominating like they were, which I think is great for the tour.”
Bradley’s PGA Championship win continued a trend of seven consecutive grand slam events won by first-time major winners. With an emerging group of under-30 contenders, there are sure to be more to follow (see graphic).
After his win, Bradley talked about how overlooked he always has been — even after winning the Byron Nelson earlier this year.
“Ever since I was 10 years old I’ve kind of flown under the radar,” he said.
That is not likely to happen anymore, though. Bradley is one of the favorites to win the coveted PGA Player of the Year award entering the FedExCup playoff series, which begins next week with The Barclays at Plainfield CC in New Jersey.
Bradley said his goal entering this year was to win the PGA Tour’s Rookie of the Year award. Now he’s in line to win both, and that’s no buzzkill.