Michael Bradley wins Puerto Rico Open

11 years after his last PGA Tour victory, America’s Michael Bradley edged out Jason Day of Australia to win the Puerto Rico Open presented by Banco Popular by a single shot.

Michael Bradley
Fergus Bisset
By Fergus Bisset
published

11 years after his last PGA Tour victory, America’s Michael Bradley edged out Jason Day of Australia to win the Puerto Rico Open presented by Banco Popular by a single shot.

Bradley holed a clutch birdie putt on the final green to finish on -14 and hang on for the victory over Day. At almost 43, Bradley is twice the age of 21-year-old Day.

The Australian had topped the leaderboard for most of the week, but he got off to a poor start on Sunday with a double bogey on the par-5 second. Day regrouped, however, and fought hard down the back nine. He had a chance to force a playoff but missed from seven feet on the final green.

For Bradley it was a welcome return to the winner’s enclosure. “I'm almost 43, and you don't know really how many opportunities you're going to have,” he said. “I'm not Tiger Woods. So when I do have an opportunity, come a Sunday, that maybe have a chance to win, it's probably a little more special.”

It was Bradley’s first PGA Tour start of the season, last year he played 14 events and missed eight cuts. With this win, the 42-year-old has earned a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour.

Day, looking for his first tour win, was philosophical in defeat. “I’m disappointed that I couldn't finish it off, but I'm very happy with myself that I actually put myself into contention.” He said.

Puerto Rico Open presented by Banco Popular Trump International GC, Puerto Rico March 12-15, purse $3,500,000, par 72

1    Michael Bradley (USA)    67    69    68    70    274    $630,000 T2    Jason Day (Aus)        66    68    70    71    275    $308,000 T2    Brett Quigley (USA)    68    71    69    67    275    $308,000 T4    Bart Bryant (USA)    67    68    73    68    276    $154,000 T4    Greg Chalmers (Aus)    68    70    70    68    276    $154,000 T6    J.P Hayes (USA)        71    68    71    68    278    $121,625 T6    John Merrick (USA)    70    72    70    66    278    $121,625 8    Jeff Overton (USA)    69    72    70    68    279    $108,500 T9    Joe Durant (USA)        71    72    67    70    280    $91,000 T9    Kent Jones (USA)        69    69    70    72    280    $91,000 T9    Jerry Kelly (USA)        70    68    73    69    280    $91,000 T9    D.A Points (USA)        70    68    72    70    280    $91,000

Note: Players in bold signifies Titleist ball usage only

Fergus Bisset
Fergus Bisset
Contributing Editor

Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly. 

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?

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