BROOKLINE, Mass. — Keegan Bradley experienced a Boston sports moment as he made his way down the 18th fairway on Saturday at the 122nd U.S. Open at The Country Club.
Bradley had just made his third birdie on the back nine at 17 and he was serenaded by a stacked gallery chanting “Keegan, Keegan” as he walked toward the green.
The native of Woodstock, Vt., and longtime Boston sports enthusiast was overwhelmed by the reaction.
“Honestly, I think it was one of the most amazing moments of my entire life,” said Bradley. “I got to feel like what it feels like to play in Fenway, to play in the Garden, to play in Gillette Stadium.
“I felt like a Boston player there. That was a moment I will never forget for the rest of my life and I appreciate the fans giving me that.”
Bradley exhibited a workmanlike case of course management in Round 3. He battled the wind and the rolling terrain to complete the round with a one under 69 and two under (208) for the tournament. Bradley will begin Round 4 among the leaders.
“It has been a pretty intense week,” said Bradley. “The crowds as usual here in Boston are I think the best in the world so it was pretty fun.
“As a kid I dreamed about playing in front of Boston fans and being a Patriot or being in the Garden. Out here today I felt like I was in a home game.”
Bradley made par on one, but his round began unraveling in the ensuing holes. Bradley lost a stoke when he missed a 13-foot putt on the par three, 215-yard, second hole. He missed a similar putt on three to fall two strokes back on the round and two over in the tournament.
Bradley made par on four and five but lost a stroke on the par 3, 192-yard, sixth hole. Bradley overshot the green on his second shot for this third bogey on the front nine.
Bradley picked up a stroke with birdie on eight to go two over on the round and one under on the tournament. His approach shot landed 14 feet from the pin and he two-putted for birdie.
Bradley got back to even on the tournament and one over on the round with a birdie on nine, a short straight par four. Bradley’s approach shot from 175 yards landed 11 feet from the pin. Bradley felt a surge of confidence as he made the turn.
“I got a little upset with myself walking down the seventh fairway and gave myself a little talking-to,” said Bradley. “Sometimes that can kick things into gear and I made I made a really nice 10-footer for par on seven.
“I sort of felt pretty calm and then that putt on nine with the crowd, I could feel the energy change.”
TCC goes from difficult to perilous on the back nine and Bradley felt its bite with a bogey on 10. After three consecutive pars, Bradley bit back with a birdie on 14 to get back to even on the round. Bradley left his approach shot 11 feet from the pin.
Bradley went even on the round with a birdie of 15, a 622-yard, par five. Bradley went one under for the round and two under for the tournament with a 14-foot birdie putt on 17.
