By Mike McAllister, PGATOUR.COM
KAPALUA, Hawaii — He has his wife and kids with him. They’ve eaten at the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. restaurant in neary Lahaina for four straight nights. He’s been deep-sea fishing with his 9-year-old son (alas, they got shut out).
It’s been a good week already for Michael Bradley … and it got even better on Friday.
The 45-year-old Bradley, playing with Bryce Molder in the first group of the season, produced a bogey-free 5-under 68 and was the clubhouse leader when he finished his round.
Not a bad way to start the year.
"I drove it decent, hit some good iron shots, made some putts," Bradley said. "I didn’t do anything stupid."
And that may be the most important thing, considering Bradley felt a little rusty coming into this week. He also admitted to being a little nervous going off first; two years ago at this event, he was also in the first twosome of the first round of the year, paired that time with Martin Laird.
But staying out of trouble and making a couple of extra-long putts made it a comfortable day, despite the windy conditions. Oh, and he also knocked a 408-yard drive at the seventh hole, the longest drive of his PGA TOUR career.
Having qualified for this event by winning in Puerto Rico last year, Bradley would get a return ticket next year if he can seal the deal on Monday. Not that he’s looking that far ahead.
"Yes, it was a nice way to start," he said. "But it’s too early to start thinking about winning. If I’m still around the lead when I step onto the 10th tee on Monday, then maybe then …"
Well, maybe by then he’d already have made three more visits to Bubba Gump’s.
“Bradley doesn’t ‘do anything stupid’”
The same can’t be said for that other Bradley, Keegan, who spits about 10 million times every hole and crys like a baby everytime he misses a putt.
Jordan, agree 100%. The game would be better off without whinging spitters, especially those spitters who also cheat by using belly putters!
Nice to see a couple of old guys, Bradley & Stricker, in the mix. Don’t think either will fight off the younger guns over 72 holes though.
Hope they don’t ban the spitters, as I’d hate to see the worst of the worst, Sergio, who spits in the hole, be gone for good…
Good start for Keegs! It’s going to be another big year for the kid! Hey Jordan and Mike, you guys are in for a long season!!!! GO KEEGS!!!
Mike I’ve said it before but it’s worth repeating….”you effing red neck,jar headed,double digit hdcp,pr*ck” !!!!!
Mike Millah…how ’bout that eagle on 9 by Bradley…pretty nice huh?????
Jordan, agree 100% with your comment. Well said:
“The same can’t be said for that other Bradley, Keegan, who spits about 10 million times every hole and crys like a baby everytime he misses a putt.”
Brads I’m not going to bother reacting to most of your childish abuse, but I want to ask what you meant by jar headed?
I googled jarhead and found it’s a nickname for US Marines. Is that what you meant by your post? That I’m a marine? Well, I’m not.
However, in the midst of all that surrounding profanity it seems to me that you have simply disrespected your own country’s armed forces.
Not very patriotic, sonny-boy!
Why don’t you suck it up and try and post your first intelligent comment about golf? This is a golf forum after all.
Millah…NO, when I refer to you as a “jarhead” I mean it as a being a EURO. It has nothing to do being a Marine (who I have nothing but the utmost respect for). Back in the day I was an athlete and I went up against Europeans. While competing against them I frequently had “disagreements” with them and hence coined the term “jarhead” as a way of verbally jarring with them!!!
Brads, I don’t come from Europe. Love it as a holiday destination though.