Keegan Bradley sets Bay Hill Club & Lodge front-nine scoring record with 29 in Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard final round
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Keegan Bradley birdies for front-nine 29 at Arnold Palmer Invitational
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Keegan Bradley made brawny Bay Hill Club & Lodge’s front nine look gentle in Sunday’s final round at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard, doing so in historic fashion.
Bradley turned in 7-under 29 Sunday at Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill, the lowest nine-hole total on Bay Hill’s front nine in competition. He didn’t pace the same after the turn, but he carded a final-round, 8-under 64 for a high finish in the Signature Event, as the upcoming U.S. Team Ryder Cup captain continued to display strong form inside the ropes.
Bradley finished the week at 7-under total, and he stood three back of leader Collin Morikawa (10-under) as Morikawa began the final nine Sunday.
“This was really something that I’ll remember forever,” Bradley said afterward. “I think this is the toughest course we play all year, and to do it on Sunday under these conditions feels good. I can take this with me the rest of the year.
“I was walking off 9 trying to figure out what I, if I did shoot 29, and I was pretty sure I did, but it was exciting. I hit a terrible drive on 9 and, like, terrible. And it rolled up and I had 102 yards straight looking at the flag. Like, sometimes you get good breaks and that’s what happens.”
It marked Bradley’s fourth top-15 finish in six starts this season, after he solved Bay Hill’s front nine in a way that no TOUR pro had previously achieved. High winds were originally in the Orlando forecast Sunday but never materialized, making the demanding Bay Hill track relatively gettable, and Bradley made the most of it.
After two opening pars, Bradley drained a 7-foot birdie at the par-4 third hole and added an 11-foot birdie at the par-5 fourth. He made par at the fifth before a hole-out eagle from 73 yards at the par-5 sixth, indicating something special might be in store.
Keegan Bradley holes out from 73 yards to make eagle at Arnold Palmer Invitational
Bradley didn’t slow down, nearly acing the par-3 seventh from 184 yards before converting a 2-foot birdie. He added birdies from inside 5 feet on the par-4 eighth and ninth holes, a virtuoso display of ball-striking.
Bradley entered the final round at 1-over total, well outside realistic contention at Bay Hill after losing ground with a third-round 76. He made up Saturday’s dropped shots — and then some — on his first nine Sunday.
He stayed hot with a 9-foot birdie at the par-4 10th hole, and he rebounded from his first bogey of the day at the gnarly par-3 14th with an up-and-down birdie at the short par-5 16th. He closed with two-putt pars from inside 20 feet on Nos. 17 and 18. He knew it was likely short of the winner’s circle, but he heads to THE PLAYERS Championship knowing his game is nearing peak form.
“I had three doubles yesterday. Other than those three holes … I could have won this tournament,” Bradley said. “No matter what happens the rest of the day, this will go a long way in my year.”
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Keegan Bradley’s Record Nine at Bay Hill Keeps Ryder Cup Momentum Going
U.S. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley has said he doesn’t want to use a captain’s pick on himself if he doesn’t automatically qualify for the team in September.
If he plays like he did in the final round at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, he might be Team USA’s first playing captain since Arnold Palmer himself in 1963.
Bradley had a record first nine holes, shooting 7-under 29, the lowest score on Bay Hill’s front nine. He started the back off with a birdie, too, and after 18 holes had a final-round 64 that sprung him 23 spots up the leaderboard to T4 at 7 under.
And he didn’t even realize his feat walking off the 9th hole.
“I didn’t (know 29 was the record), but I figured, I was walking off 9 trying to figure out what I, if I did shoot 29, and I was pretty sure I did, but it was exciting,” the 38-year-old said. “I hit a terrible drive on 9 and, like, terrible. And it rolled up and I had 102 yards straight looking at the flag. Like, sometimes you get good breaks and that’s what happens.”
The highlight of his round, though, was on the par-5 6th, holing out for eagle from 73 yards.
Bradley didn’t bolt from the course Sunday afternoon in case his round was good enough to notch him the win. But still four strokes off the lead when he walked off No. 18, he knows it’s unlikely that his week at Arnie’s Place will end with the red cardigan sweater. However, it was still an unforgettable day.
“This was really something that I’ll remember forever,” the world No. 16 said. “This was, like I’ve been saying all week, I think this is the toughest course we play all year, and to do it on Sunday under these conditions feels good. I can take this with me the rest of the year.”
Maybe this round propels Bradley to follow in Palmer’s footsteps at Bethpage Black, 62 years after The King helped the U.S. to victory at Atlanta Athletic Club as playing captain.
And Keegan (or anyone) shooting 8 under through 10 holes would certainly help the U.S. win back the Cup.
“I would love that,” Bradley said. “I would love that. It’s always in the back of my mind, but days like this, I can build on for the rest of the year.”
Max Schreiber is a contributor to the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated, covering golf. Before joining SI in October 2024, the Mahwah, N.J., native, worked as an associate editor for the Golf Channel and wrote for RyderCup.com and FanSided. He is a multiplatform producer for Newsday and has a bachelor’s in communications and journalism from Quinnipiac University. In his free time, you can find him doing anything regarding the Yankees, Giants, Knicks and Islanders.
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