Thursday, March 19, 2009

TIME TO CELEBRATE FOR BRADLEY

TIME TO CELEBRATE FOR BRADLEY


World number 816 Michael Bradley reignited his career with victory in the US Tour's Puerto Rico Open on Sunday.

But at 42 the American is unsure how much he wants to capitalise on his first win for 11 years.

"I don't know when I'll play again, I really don't. I just want to go home and celebrate it with my wife and kids," said Bradley after a two-putt birdie on the long 18th gave him the US$630,000 title by one from his compatriot Brett Quigley and 21-year-old Australian Jason Day.

Last December, Bradley failed to come through the Tour qualifying school. This was his first tournament of 2009.

"I really didn't know what to expect - I didn't know how I would react being in the final group. It's been so long since I've been there," he added.

"I guess that's the perk of getting a little older - you have more experience. I have been there and won and you just try to pull on all the past experiences that you've had.

"But pressure is pressure. It doesn't matter. It comes in all shapes and sizes.

"I'm almost 43 and you don't know really how many opportunities you're going to have. I'm not Tiger Woods, so when I do have an opportunity to win it's probably a little more special."

Former world junior champion Day, whose chance went when he failed to get up and down from a greenside bunker at the last, said: "I'm disappointed that I couldn't finish it off, but I'm very happy with myself that I actually put myself into contention and I held my head up and I nearly won the tournament.

"I know there are going to be plenty more wins coming my way as long as I work hard and keep moving forward.

"I've been in this position on the Nationwide Tour, but it's totally different on the PGA Tour."

Quigley looked as if he might achieve his first win in 341 starts when, from four back, he birdied five of the last 10 holes for a 67.

The last of them put him alongside Bradley and Day, but they still had the 18th to come and Bradley was the one to seize the chance.


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