Ryder Cup redemption for Keegan Bradley as US skipper banks $2.1m in Skins Game
US Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley showed why he should have played in his own team at Bethpage Black as he beat European heroes Tommy Fleetwood and Shane Lowry in reboot of made-for-TV event
Keegan Bradley showed he should have played in his own Ryder Cup team by winning $2.1m in a made-for-TV Skins Game on Black Friday.
In his first event since Bethpage Black, the US skipper beat Tommy Fleetwood and Shane Lowry who had led Europe to victory in September. But Fleetwood rolled in a six-foot birdie hole on the final hole worth $1.125m to finish second with $1.7m. World No.3 Xander Schauffele, the USA’s joint top points scorer on Long Island, won nothing.
This Thanksgiving Skins Games – where players compete for increasing money on each hole – was brought back for the first time since 2008 by Prime Video.
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All four players wore microphones as they traded barbs and shots at the Panther National in Florida. It was light-hearted fun but Bradley was seriously good as he won 11 Skins and a lot of money with a deadly display of matchplay putting.
Gary Player won $170,000 for winning the first Skins Game against Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Arnold Palmer back in 1983.
And Bradley, 39, said: “I really feel lucky. I grew up watching the Skins Game. I feel really lucky to be out here and play for this sort of money and to be able to be a part of this Skins Game’s game history.”
But it was also a little bit of Ryder Cup redemption for Bradley who admitted last month: “There’s no part of me that thinks I’ll ever get over this”.
The US skipper decided against picking himself despite beating Fleetwood to win the Travelers Championship in June. The world No.4 was the top points scorer while Lowry sealed the crucial half point to retain the trophy on a nervy Sunday afternoon.
During his round today, Bradley revealed: “It has been tough. I feel I let some people down. It is a heavy burden. You knew it could be the outcome but the glory is so big. It was an amazing opportunity. We are getting better every day.”
This Skins Game gave players a “reverse purse” of $1m to start the 16-hole event – but players lost money when they lost holes.
The first four holes were halved so all the cash carried over. On the third green, Lowry made a 10-foot birdie putt to deny Bradley $225,000 and the American gave him a light-hearted thumbs down.
“I have just spent the last few months breaking Keegan Bradley’s heart,” the Irishman responded.
World No.26 Lowry’s mood changed after he missed a putt on No.5 – and Schauffele asked: “Do you want to swear – there is a five-second delay so it is fine.”
The Irishman said: “I will need more than five seconds for what I need to say!”
Fleetwood then missed his five-foot birdie putt to hand Bradley $575,000. With the reverse purse, the other three players also lost $25,000 per hole so $125,000 in total.
The Southport star, who banked $10m for winning the FedEx Cup, then won his first Skin worth $150,000 on the sixth hole.
And Lowry, a late replacement for the injured Justin Thomas, won his only skin on No.9 when his chip hit the flag.
The next four holes were shared to leave $900,000 on the line on No.13. And it was lucky for Bradley as he was the only player to birdie the 160-yard par-3 hole from 15 feet. “I was really, really nervous over that putt,” he admitted.
Schauffele is a member of Panther National but only made his first two birdies on 14 and 15 – and was denied the Skin both times, the second time by Lowry. “I like to hole them for a half,” said the Ryder Cup hero.
Asked by on-course commentator Colt Knost how he would feel if they won the same number of Skins, the world No.3 admitted: “Pretty ***** to be honest!”
It left three Skins – and $1.125m – up for grabs on the 16th and final hole and Fleetwood was the only player to make birdie. He raised his arms in triumph.
“It is probably the best year of my career but I was still a bit nervous down the last hole,” Fleetwood said;
Lowry, who took home $200,000, admitted: “I left a few dollars out there. I am happy for Keegan and Tommy. Tommy’s had a tough year so he needed that.”
Smiling Schauffele, who was presented with a cheque for $0, said: “I am going to frame this in the living room as motivation. This is probably the last Skins Game I will ever play.”
