Keegan Bradley parred the first playoff hole at the BMW Championship on Monday, defeating Justin Rose to earn his first PGA Tour win in six years.
The final round of the tournament at Aronimink Golf Club in Pennsylvania was delayed until Monday due to rain, and then extended to a playoff after both Bradley and Rose bogeyed the final hole.
Bradley Celebrates Career Resurgence
Rose had a 15-foot putt for the win on the 18th hole, but saw his ball lip out to force a playoff between the two leaders. Rose then missed a four-footer for par in the extra hole, giving Bradley the opportunity to tap in for par to win the title.
Bradley shot a 6-under-par 64 to finish at 20-under for the tournament and earn his fourth career win.
“A lot has happened to me over these six years,” Bradley said after the playoff. “I kind of fell off the radar there for a little while. It’s tough to go from being on Ryder Cup teams, being on Presidents Cup teams to being outside the top 100 in the world.”
Even in a losing effort, Rose still accomplished a career goal through his second place finish. That was enough to make the 38-year-old the No. 1 ranked player in the world, surpassing Dustin Johnson to become the 22nd player ever to earn the top spot on the ranking list.
“I’m delighted to be world No. 1,” Rose told reporters. “Boyhood dreams, you know what I mean?”
Tiger Continues to Impress, Spieth Fails to Qualify
Tiger Woods also had a solid finish, shooting 65 in Monday to finish tied for sixth in the tournament. That was more than enough for Woods to earn a position in the Tour Championship, which is only open to the top 30 golfers in the FedEx Cup standings.
It also earned Woods a guaranteed entry to next year’s US Open, though he almost certainly would have qualified for the major based on his world ranking next spring. The result continued an impressive comeback season for Woods, who has shown that he can still compete with the best in the world at the age of 42.
“To make the Ryder Cup team and get back to East Lake, that was a pretty big task at the beginning of the year and to be able to accomplish that is something I’m very proud of,” Woods said after Monday’s round.
On the other hand, one of golf’s biggest stars won’t be making the trip to the Tour Championship. Jordan Spieth failed to qualify for the first time in his professional career, finishing tied for 54th at the BMW Championship and ending up 31st in the FedEx Cup standings.
“I was in control of my own destiny and didn’t have it this week,” Spieth said after the tournament. “Was riding some momentum but all in all, my game just kind of got a little off.”
Spieth could also face punishment from the PGA Tour for failing to play the minimum of 25 events for players who have not added a new tournament to their schedule. The Ryder Cup will be his 24th event of the year, and the Tour Championship would have made 25. A fine or suspension is possible, though PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan has discretion over the nature of any penalty Spieth might receive.