Bradley in Wonderland:
Rookie playing with stars – Bridgestone Invitational
AKRON, Ohio – It was Bradley in Wonderland in the second round of the Bridgestone Invitational Friday.“It was really fun to be out there on the leaderboard,” said Keegan Bradley, 25, Nationwide Tour graduate, rookie on the PGA Tour and in his first Bridgestone. “I had Luke Donald behind me, Phil Mickelson a few groups behind me. It’s something I dreamed about since I was two years old. It’s happening in front of my eyes. It’s spectacular. I just can’t express how much fun I’m having out here.”
Bradley spoke of the generosity of Mickelson, offering help at any time and even giving him his phone number to text at any time. He said that Mickelson send one of the first congratulation texts when he won the Byron Nelson Championship. And did he offer Mickelson any advice.
“And if I did tell Phil something, he probably would tell me to be quiet,” Bradley said. “Maybe I can give him advice on fly fishing. That’s about it.”
HAIR OF THE GOLFER: Rickie Fowler, with the oversized cap down over his ears, noted for looking as though he’s wearing a bucket of hair, was asked if he had seen Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa, who’s had his long, shaggy hair trimmed short.
“I have,” Fowler said.
Has he inspired you? a guy wondered.
“Inspired me in what way,” said Fowler.
What do you think?
“You like his haircut?”
I do.
“No, he hasn’t inspired me on the haircut,” Fowler said. “I don’t know when I’m going to get a haircut. I can’t remember the last time I did.”
A MATTER OF TIMING: Anticipating thunderstorms Saturday, officials have moved up the starting times up an hour for the third round. The golfers will play in threesomes and will tee off from 7 to 9 a.m. at No. 1 and No. 10. TV coverage will be taped and will be broadcast as originally scheduled, from noon to 1:30 p.m. on the Golf Channel, and 2-6 p.m. on CBS.
DIM OUTLOOK: Adam Scott, a seven-time winner on the PGA Tour, is looking for his first win this season. His record in the Bridgestone is not encouraging. In his eight previous starts at Firestone, he has finished under par only twice, in 2006 and 2010, at 5 under both times.
AGE IS ALL RELATIVE: There have been 12 different players in their 20s and 12 different players in their 30s win on the PGA Tour this season. Since 2000, there has not been a point in a season -- except when Sergio Garcia won the season opening Mercedes Championship in 2002 -- when there were more different players in their 20s with wins than different players in their 30s.
FOWLER LANDMARK: Rickie Fowler is in strange territory. He hasn’t led after any round in a World Golf Championships event. If he were to win, he would become the youngest ever to win a WGC event, at age 22 years, 7 months, 24 days.
FAST COMPANY: Five players recorded their first tour win at a World Golf Championships event: Accenture Match Play Championship – Ian Poulter, 2010; Henrik Stenson 2007, Kevin Sutherland 2002, Darren Clarke 2000;
HSBC Champions -- Francesco Molinari 2010.
EAGLES ON THE WING: Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa (68) hit a 58-degree wedge out of the second cut of rough and into the hole for eagle-3 on No. 2. Phil Mickelson (73) used a pitching wedge for an eagle-2 on the 11th.
NO-BOGEY MAN II: Six guys got through the second round without a bogey: Francesco Molinari (64), Keegan
Bradley (65), Gary Woodland (66), Hennie Otto (66), Edoardo Molinari (66) and Richard Green (68).
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