“Conversations with Champions presented by Sentry” is a weekly series from Golfweek. This week: Keegan Bradley, winner of the 2022 Zozo Championship.
Keegan Bradley found victory lane once again and Tiger Woods provided plenty of the inspiration.
Bradley, winner of the 2011 PGA Championship among his five PGA Tour wins, claimed the 2020 Zozo Championship after closing with a 68 on Sunday in Japan.
It was enough to top Rickie Fowler and Andrew Putnam by a stroke and gave Bradley his first win since the 2018 BMW Championship.
“It feels amazing. I feel so honored to have won this tournament
and be a PGA Tour champion in Japan. It means a lot to me and I’m still, I still can’t believe it,” Bradley said.
From his emotions getting the best of him to Tiger’s inspiration, here’s everything Keegan Bradley said after winning the 2022 Zozo Championship.
Q: The birdie on 17 was a turning point for you, I believe. Just talk us through that moment and what was going through your thoughts at the present time.
KB: Well, 16 was bizarre, I’ve never done that, I don’t think, ever, I shanked one out of the bunker. But I stayed really calm. That two-putt on 16 was huge and that birdie on 17 is one of the best birdies of my life and one that when I think back on this tournament, that’s the pivotal hole. I was never going to give up or let in and I knew I was still in a good spot to win the tournament.
Q: You played the same group as Tiger [Woods] when Tiger made his 82nd win here three years ago. What does it mean to have your name on the same trophy as Tiger?
KB: It’s spectacular, I learned a lot that day playing 36 holes with him the last two rounds when he won. Anytime you play with Tiger it’s really great, but to watch him win up close was spectacular and I learned a lot. I was thinking about it the whole day today, just kind of remembering Tiger and how he walked a little slower than I noticed in the past, and I tried to do that. To have that same exact pin on 18 and be able to win, man, what a special day.
You earned it, @Keegan_Bradley.
Enjoy it. pic.twitter.com/gLQXPHzXSd
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) October 16, 2022
Q: Keegan, how far was the putt on 17? What’s the distance, do you estimate, and did you feel like you had a good shot at it? Also, you looked like you were ready to cry. The emotion side must be tremendous.
KB: I’ve been crying since I finished. I can’t remember the last time I cried. I talked to my wife on the phone a second ago, FaceTime. I can’t keep it together, I don’t know what’s wrong with me. On 17 I had about 20 feet, 15, 20 feet and I kind of realized if I make this putt, I’ve got a two-shot lead going down 18, which I thought, boy, that would be nice to have two there, and I just buried it. It’s just a perfect putt, meant to be and I’m proud of the way I handled that hole.
Q: Many congratulations on your win. I know we talk about how special the Japanese fans are here this week, but is there any particular experience or memories that you can actually take home with you this week?
KB: Well, it’s not only the fans. We went into Narita a few times for dinner and the city’s so spectacular and clean and everybody’s been so nice. The fans here are so pleasant to be around. They’re really fun people to play in front of. This course is one of the best in the world that I’ve ever played and I’m very honored to be a winner at this place. It means a lot to me.
Q: Keegan, this is your first title for four years. How does it feel to break that title drought and what do you feel you can achieve from now on?
KB: It means a lot. There’s a lot of hard work that goes into it. Even if you play perfectly, doesn’t mean you’re going to win. But for me, I feel like I should be contending for tournaments, I want to be contending to play on Ryder Cup, Presidents Cups teams, majors. You know, this is going to go a long way. I haven’t really — of my five, I haven’t really won that many leading the entire day like I did today and I really learned a lot and I think I can take a lot of that going forward the rest of the year.
Q: Keegan, you had that long putt early in the round. Talk about how that maybe set the tone, momentum for you. And also, just a fun moment giving your putter to your caddie with the two fingers, just talk about the relationship you guys have.
KB: Yeah, I putted spectacularly all week. I wish there were stats so I could see what they were. That putt was huge because I had hit three or four good putts leading into that and they didn’t go in. That one went and it sort of really propelled the rest of the round. My caddie, Scott Vail, is a major part of where I’m at right now in winning this tournament. I’m so lucky to have him on my team, on my side. To be able to share wins like this with somebody that you like as a friend is even more special. I’m so thankful for all the work he’s done for me and having him on my side.
Q: Keegan, during your walk to scoring, the cameras overheard you just getting a little emotional and then also mentioning to your caddie about some sake. I was just wondering the emotions you were feeling then and what’s your plans for celebrating after this?
KB: Yeah, I never experienced emotions like that after winning a tournament. I’m a dad now and I miss my family a lot over here, and I’m so thankful for all that my wife, Jillian, has done for our family. To be able to, I don’t know if reward is the right word, but to be able to give this, the success of winning a tournament means something to me because I want her to know all the sacrifices she makes are worth it for us and for me. That meant a lot. As for the celebration, we’re going to hit it tonight, for sure. We’re going to go out to dinner at a steakhouse in Narita and we’ve got the Patriots playing at 2 a.m., so could be a long night.
Q: And it’s 3 a.m. in Boston now. You said you talked to your wife. Were your kids still up and was your wife watching the whole time?
KB: Yeah, I got a billion text messages on my phone from everybody staying up until 3, 4 in the morning. I was able to FaceTime with my wife. Actually, my mom is at my house with her right now randomly, so I got to FaceTime with them. Winning with a family on your side is so much more special. I mean, winning majors and stuff like that is so amazing, but being able to share a win with your family is something I never thought of and I never knew it would be so amazing.
Q: Keegan, we saw the emotion. It’s been four years since you won. How significant is the win?
KB: I’m trying to keep it together, but I really want to thank my wife, Jillian, for the sacrifices she makes for our family.
Humble in victory 👏@Keegan_Bradley is overwhelmed with emotion after the win @ZOZOCHAMP. pic.twitter.com/XnxbxqT57d
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) October 16, 2022
Q: You made it difficult on yourself, you bogeyed 14 and 16 with a two-shot lead, but you came back with a brilliant birdie on 17. Talk about the resilience you showed to get this thing done.
KB: Oh, man, listen, that’s why I practice so hard. It’s not going to be easy, I knew it wasn’t going to be easy, that two-putt on 16 was major. Things aren’t easy for me normally, so I was ready. That birdie on 17 goes down as one of the best holes of my life. This is so special. I played in the final group here when Tiger won and I got to watch him do that. I’m so proud to be win this tournament. Thank you, Japan and Zozo, just a first-class event and golf course.
Q: Five wins on the PGA Tour, you have a major championship obviously your rookie year. Where does this rank?
KB: This is high up there. I really put a lot of work in this offseason. You know, this is what I want to do, I want to win tournaments, I want to play in Ryder Cups, I want to be in the conversation and this is a good start.
Q: What a performance, congratulations. You’ve been back to Japan three times now for the Zozo Championship and you’ve won so many big events in the past, but it’s been four years since you won last. How’s this one rank for you?
KB: It’s really high up there. (Tearful) Jesus, so strange. It’s just when you put the work in and you win, it means a lot. Thanks to Japan, Japan and the golf course and Zozo, what an amazing event and golf course. I’m so proud to be a winner here.
Q: You made it so interesting coming down the stretch. How does the putt on 17 feel?
KB: It’s one of the best putts of my life, yeah. It was amazing.
