by SimpleGolfigist on March 3, 2012
Keegan Bradley’s Pedigree
Keegan Bradley, the last name sound familiar? That is because his aunt is a famous LPGA Tour golfer, Pat Bradley. That’s right; Keegan Bradley is the nephew and golf legacy of Pat Bradley. It must be an amazing thing to grow up watching and admiring someone like her and then actually fulfill your admiration. That is exactly what Keegan Bradley is accomplishing today in the golf world. Bradley has an extremely impressive powerful drive that is recorded to swing at 140mph. With his incredible drive, and motivational drive, Keegan was voted PGA Tour Rookie of the Year in 2011.
Who is Keegan Bradley?
Born in Jupiter, Florida on June 7, 1986, Keegan Bradley is the son of Mark Bradley. Mark Bradley was the head pro at Jackson Hole Golf and Tennis Club in Wyoming. Of course, this further encouraged Keegan to pursue a professional golf career. Perhaps it is not a coincidence that Keegan Bradley’s favorite vacation spot is none other than Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Despite his aunt and fathers presence in his life, during his early teenage life Keegan was an all-state ski racer in when he lived in Vermont. Just before his senior year, Bradley moved to Hopkinton, Massachusetts. Till this day Keegan’s favorite sports teams are the New England Patriots, Boston Celtics, and Boston Red Sox. Doubtfully another coincidence. At Hopkinton High School Keegan Bradley won the MIAA division 2 individual state championship in 2004 and then proceeded to win 9 collegiate events before graduating in 2008 from St. John’s University.
How Keegan Got His Start
Shortly after his graduation in 2008, Keegan Bradley turned pro. It only took 5 starts for him on the NGA Hooters Tour to get his first win as a professional golfer at the Southern Dunes. Not long after he won another Hooters Tour event in 2009. That year was a good one for Keegan Bradley as he made the cut two Nationwide Tour events. In 2010, Bradley finished 14th on the money list in the Nationwide tour which clinched his first PGA Tour card for 2011.
His PGA Tour Experiences So Far
In his first PGA Tour event at the 2011 Sony Open he was able to make the cut and move on to the Bob Hope Classic. Keegan T7 in the Bob Hope Classic but that did not stop him from defeating Ryan Palmer on the first hole of a sudden death match. It was a long and hard fought battle at the 2011 HP Byron Nelson Championship, but Keegan rose victorious 3 years after turning professional. This accomplishment periled in comparison to his greatest achievement which came in that same year. At the 2011 PGA Championship, Keegan Bradley became the first man since Ben Curtis in 2003 to win his first attempt at a major. He was also the first ever to record a major win with a long putter. Since that victory Bradley has moved from 108th to 29th in the Official World Golf Rankings. It does not take having a golf fanatic for a father and a world famous hall-of-fame LPGA golfer as an aunt to become Rookie of the Year in the PGA, but it sure does not hurt and Keegan Bradley is the walking billboard.
by SimpleGolfigist on February 19, 2012
When people talk about the golf greats the discussion almost always involves one or all of these players. Tiger Woods, because of all the recent publicity and natural talent. Arnold Palmer, for his undeniable skill and his great iced tea drink, and none other than the infamous Phil Mickelson himself. He began his career almost right out of college and practically dominated the sport of golf from there on out. Phi is an Arizona State University graduate who won his first PGA Tour event as a junior in college. This alone was an incredible feat that has not been accomplished since 1991 when Phil Mickelson did it.
Who is Phil Mickelson?
His full name is Philip Alfred Mickelson. He was born on June 16, 1970 in sunny San Diego, California. Phil’s parents, Phil Mickelson Sr. and Mary Mickelson, support their son in everything he does. Phil began learning golf from Phil Mickelson Sr. at a very young age. Phil learned his golf swing by literally mirroring that of his fathers. This is why he swings his golf club with his left hand while he is actually right-handed in everything else he does. Because of this, Phil Mickelson has acquired the nickname “Lefty”. Phil married his beautiful wife on November 16th of 1996. They are now the proud parents of 12-year old Amanda Mickelson (DOB: 6/21/1999), 10-year old Sophia Mickelson (DOB: 10/23/2001), and 8-year old Evan Mickelson (DOB: 3/23/2003). Both Phil and Amy currently endorse a few charities that they created personally for the sake of many. The first of those organizations is the Birdies for the Brave, which was designed to raise funds to help those who are injured in combat protecting our country. Phil Mickelson created Birdies for the Brave program on to donate to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation and Homes for Our Troops and has played on behalf of these three charities since 2003.
Phil Mickelson Championships and Achievements
Phil Mickelson first showed his stride in his own claim to fame in 1990 when he won his first NCAA championship and his first Haskins award. The Haskins award is only awarded to the most outstanding collegiate golf players. Phil Mickelson claimed three consecutive Haskins awards in 1990, 1991, and 1992.
Phil Mickelson’s Is A Winner On The PGA Tour
Since turning pro in 1992, Phil Mickelson has achieved forty tour victories in total to date, including his four major victories. His first major win was in 2004 when he defeated Ernie Els by one point with an 18-foot birdie on the final hole. That game was nothing short of a heroic tale as Mickelson and Els trading birdies and eagles the entire eighteen holes. With the three Masters Tournament victories and one PGA Championship under his belt, Phil Mickelson is no longer referred to as the “best golf player to never win a major”, as he was earlier in his career. Because of his great achievements, many well known brands have sought to endorse Phil on his journey to be known as the best. He is currently sponsored by Exxon Mobile, Callaway Golf, Barclays, Rolex and KPMG. In the past Mickelson has also received endorsements from recognizable names such as Titleist, Bearing Point and Ford. In 2011, Mickelson was reported to have grossed over Sixty-two million dollars in the length of his career. Fifty-three million of that was reported to be from endorsements.
