Pat Bradley (golfer)

Last updated

Pat Bradley
Personal information
Born (1951-03-24) March 24, 1951 (age 72)
Westford, Massachusetts, U.S.
Height5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Sporting nationalityFlag of the United States.svg  United States
Residence Hyannis, Massachusetts, U.S.
Career
College Florida International
Turned professional 1974
Former tour(s) LPGA Tour
Professional wins36
Number of wins by tour
LPGA Tour31
LPGA of Japan Tour1
Other5
Best results in LPGA major championships
(wins: 6)
Chevron Championship Won: 1986
Women's PGA C'ship Won: 1986
U.S. Women's Open Won: 1981
du Maurier Classic Won: 1980, 1985, 1986
Women's British Open DNP
Achievements and awards
World Golf Hall of Fame 1991 (member page)
LPGA Tour
Money Winner
1986, 1991
LPGA Tour
Player of the Year
1986, 1991
LPGA Tour Vare Trophy 1986, 1991
GWAA Female
Player of the Year
1986
LPGA William and
Mousie Powell Award
1991
LPGA Patty Berg Award 2001
NH Golf Hall of Fame2018

Pat Bradley (born March 24, 1951) is an American professional golfer. She became a member of the LPGA Tour in 1974 and won 31 tour events, including six major championships. She is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Contents

Early life and family

Bradley was born on March 24, 1951, in Westford, Massachusetts, she was the only daughter among six children of Richard and Kay Bradley. [1] Her father was an avid golfer, and her brothers include Mark, a PGA club professional in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, whose son Keegan Bradley won the PGA Championship in 2011. The Bradleys were named "Golf Family of the Year" in 1989 by the National Golf Foundation. [2] As a teenager, she was also an accomplished alpine ski racer. [3]

Amateur career

Bradley won the New Hampshire Amateur in 1967 and 1969 and the New England Amateur in 1972 and 1973. As a member of the golf team of Florida International University in Miami, she was named an All-American in 1970. [3] In early 1973, Bradley tied for twelfth as an amateur at the Burdine's Invitational on the LPGA Tour. [4] [5]

Professional career

Bradley joined the LPGA Tour in 1974 and got her first win at the Girl Talk Classic in 1976 (she also finished second six times that year). Her breakout year was 1978, when she won three times. Her most fertile years came in the early to mid-1980s. She led the LPGA in wins in 1983 (4) and 1986 (5). Her first major came at the 1980 Peter Jackson Classic, followed by the U.S. Women's Open in 1981, and the du Maurier Classic in 1985. [4]

In 1986, Bradley won three of the four LPGA majors - the du Maurier Classic, Nabisco Dinah Shore, and LPGA Championship. [6] She finished fifth in the U.S. Women's Open, three strokes back, to narrowly miss the grand slam. Bradley won the money title and Vare Trophy that year, as well. In 1988, she was diagnosed with Graves' disease, and she played in 17 tournaments but made the cut in only eight. But she returned to form in 1989, winning once. Three more wins followed in 1990. [4]

Bradley won four times in 1991 and captured her second money and scoring titles, and was also named LPGA Tour Player of the Year for a second time. She was also inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. A New York Times survey of other LPGA Tour players published July 22, 1992 ranked Bradley as the tour's best long putter and best course manager as well as the best player on tour. The last of her LPGA victories came in 1995.

Sports psychologist Bob Rotella wrote in his 1996 book, Golf Is a Game of Confidence, that Bradley was the most mentally tough athlete he knew. She won a total of 31 tournaments on the LPGA Tour. [4] She was the third woman, behind Mickey Wright and Louise Suggs, to have completed the LPGA "Career Grand Slam". Bradley played on three U.S. Solheim Cup teams (1990, 1992, 1996) and captained the team in 2000. She was inducted into the New Hampshire Golf Hall of Fame in 2018. [7]

Professional wins

LPGA Tour (31)

Legend
LPGA Tour major championships (6)
Other LPGA Tour (25)
No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin
of victory
Runner(s)-up
1Jun 6, 1976 Girl Talk Classic +1 (72-73-72=217)Playoff Flag of the United States.svg Bonnie Lauer
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Sandra Post
Flag of the United States.svg Judy Rankin
2Jul 10, 1977 Bankers Trust Classic −6 (75-68-70=213)2 strokes Flag of the United States.svg JoAnne Carner
Flag of the United States.svg Carol Mann
Flag of the United States.svg Kathy Whitworth
3Jun 25, 1978 Lady Keystone Open −10 (70-69-67=206)4 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Jane Blalock
4Jul 30, 1978 Hoosier Classic −10 (69-69-68=206)3 strokes Flag of the United States.svg JoAnne Carner
5Sep 4, 1978 Rail Charity Classic −12 (67-66-73-71=276)4 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Sharon Miller
6Jul 20, 1980 Greater Baltimore Golf Classic −13 (69-70-67=206)1 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Nancy Lopez
7Aug 10, 1980 Peter Jackson Classic −15 (65-72-69-71=277)1 stroke Flag of the United States.svg JoAnne Carner
8Mar 29, 1981 Women's Kemper Open E (71-75-68-70=284)5 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Debbie Massey
9Jul 26, 1981 U.S. Women's Open −9 (71-74-68-66=279)1 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Beth Daniel
10Jan 30, 1983 Mazda Classic of Deer Creek −16 (68-69-69-66=272)7 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Beth Daniel
11May 22, 1983 Chrysler-Plymouth Charity Classic −7 (73-73-66=212)1 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Stephanie Farwig
12Aug 28, 1983 Columbia Savings Classic −11 (71-69-70-67=277)Playoff Flag of the United States.svg Beth Daniel
13Nov 13, 1983 Mazda Japan Classic −10 (72-70-64=206)7 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Laurie Rinker
14Jun 16, 1985 Rochester International −8 (74-67-67-72=280)2 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Nancy Lopez
15Jul 28, 1985 du Maurier Classic −10 (70-73-67-68=278)1 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Jane Geddes
16Aug 25, 1985 LPGA National Pro-Am −4 (71-74-71-68=284)Playoff Flag of the United States.svg Amy Alcott
17Apr 6, 1986 Nabisco Dinah Shore −8 (68-72-69-71=280)2 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Val Skinner
18Apr 27, 1986 S&H Golf Classic −16 (69-67-71-65=272)1 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Janet Coles
19Jun 1, 1986 LPGA Championship −11 (67-72-70-68=277)1 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Patty Sheehan
20Jul 27, 1986 du Maurier Classic −12 (73-70-67-66=276)Playoff Flag of Japan.svg Ayako Okamoto
21Aug 17, 1986 Nestle World Championship −9 (72-72-72-63=279)2 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Betsy King
Flag of the United States.svg Nancy Lopez
22Mar 29, 1987 Standard Register Turquoise Classic −6 (75-74-67-70=286)2 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Christa Johnson
23Apr 16, 1989 AI Star/Centinela Hospital Classic −8 (72 69-67=208)1 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Nancy Lopez
Flag of the United States.svg Hollis Stacy
24Feb 4, 1990 Oldsmobile LPGA Classic −7 (66-65-74-76=281)Playoff Flag of the United States.svg Dale Eggeling
25Mar 25, 1990 Standard Register Turquoise Classic −12 (70-71-68-71=280)1 stroke Flag of Japan.svg Ayako Okamoto
26May 27, 1990 LPGA Corning Classic −10 (69-70-66-69=274)3 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Patty Sheehan
27May 19, 1991 Centel Classic −10 (70-68-69-71=278)1 stroke Flag of Japan.svg Ayako Okamoto
28Sep 3, 1991 Rail Charity Golf Classic −19 (67-65-65=197)6 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Danielle Ammaccapane
29Sep 22, 1991 Safeco Classic −8 69-67-72-72=280)Playoff Flag of the United States.svg Rosie Jones
30Sep 29, 1991 MBS LPGA Classic −11 (72-70-67-68=277)1 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Michelle Estill
31Jan 22, 1995 HealthSouth Inaugural −5 (71-72-68=211)1 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Beth Daniel

LPGA Tour playoff record (6–4)

No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result
11975 Greater Ft. Myers Classic Flag of the United States.svg Sandra Haynie Lost to par on second extra hole
21976 Girl Talk Classic Flag of the United States.svg Bonnie Lauer
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Sandra Post
Flag of the United States.svg Judy Rankin
Won with par on second extra hole
Lauer and Post eliminated by birdie on first hole
31976 Wheeling Classic Flag of the United States.svg Jane Blalock Lost to par on first extra hole
41983 Columbia Savings Classic Flag of the United States.svg Beth Daniel Won with birdie on first extra hole
51984 Nabisco Dinah Shore Flag of the United States.svg Juli Inkster Lost to par on first extra hole
61985 LPGA National Pro-Am Flag of the United States.svg Amy Alcott Won with birdie on second extra hole
71985 Konica San Jose Classic Flag of the United States.svg Val Skinner Lost to par on first extra hole
81986 du Maurier Classic Flag of Japan.svg Ayako Okamoto Won with birdie on first extra hole
91990 Oldsmobile LPGA Classic Flag of the United States.svg Dale Eggeling Won with birdie on first extra hole
101991 Safeco Classic Flag of the United States.svg Rosie Jones Won with birdie on second extra hole

LPGA of Japan Tour (1)

1Co-sanctioned by the LPGA Tour

Legends Tour (1)

Other (4)

Major championships

Wins (6)

YearChampionshipWinning scoreMarginRunner-up
1980 Peter Jackson Classic −15 (65-72-69-71=277)1 stroke Flag of the United States.svg JoAnne Carner
1981 U.S. Women's Open −9 (71-74-68-66=279)1 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Beth Daniel
1985 du Maurier Classic −10 (70-73-67-68=278)1 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Jane Geddes
1986 Nabisco Dinah Shore −8 (68-72-69-71=280)2 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Val Skinner
1986 LPGA Championship −11 (67-72-70-68=277)1 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Patty Sheehan
1986 du Maurier Classic −12 (73-70-67-66=276)Playoff1 Flag of Japan.svg Ayako Okamoto

1Won in a sudden-death playoff on the first playoff hole with a birdie.

Results timeline

Tournament1971197219731974197519761977197819791980
LPGA Championship T22T26T2T54T10T15
U.S. Women's Open CUTT16T17T4T16T26T16
du Maurier Classic ........................T181
Tournament1981198219831984198519861987198819891990
Kraft Nabisco Championship ......T152613T74T6T9
LPGA Championship T24T12T6T2T31T21T4T9
U.S. Women's Open 1T21T8T13T12T5CUTCUTT3T19
du Maurier Classic T2T38T5T1911T25T39T2T8
Tournament1991199219931994199519961997199819992000
Kraft Nabisco Championship T3T17T12T19T16T23T35T42T13CUT
LPGA Championship T2T15CUTT3T8T51T11T4465T23
U.S. Women's Open 2T29T4T25T3T3T28T46CUT
du Maurier Classic T23CUTT52CUTT53CUTCUTT66T33
Tournament20012002200320042005
Kraft Nabisco Championship 77CUTCUT
LPGA Championship DQT56CUT
U.S. Women's Open
Women's British Open ^

^ The Women's British Open replaced the du Maurier Classic as an LPGA major in 2001.

  Win
  Top 10
  Did not play

CUT = missed the half-way cut.
DQ = disqualified
"T" = tied

Summary

TournamentWins2nd3rdTop-5Top-10Top-25EventsCuts made
Kraft Nabisco Championship 11247142118
LPGA Championship 132710192825
U.S. Women's Open 113810182622
du Maurier Classic 32067112117
Women's British Open 00000000
Totals6772534639682

Team appearances

Professional

Solheim Cup record

YearTotal
matches
Total
W-L-H
Singles
W-L-H
Foursomes
W-L-H
Fourballs
W-L-H
Points
won
Points
%
Career82-5-11-2-00-2-01-1-13.037.5%
1990 32-1-01-0-0 def. T. Johnson 8&70-1-0 lost w/ N. Lopez 2&11-0-0 won w/ N. Lopez 2&12.066.6%
1992 30-2-10-1-0 lost to P. Wright 4&30-1-0 lost w/ D. Mochrie 2&10-0-1 halved w/ D. Mochrie 0.516.6%
1996 20-2-00-1-0 lost to A. Sörenstam 2&10-0-00-1-0 lost w/ K. Robbins 6&50.00.0%

See also

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References

  1. "Pat Bradley". Britannica Kids. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
  2. Palm Beach Post, Jupiter resident Keegan Bradley, nephew of Hall of Famer Pat Bradley, is bound for PGA Tour October 19, 2010. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
  3. 1 2 Bryant, Ted (December 17, 1973). "Pat Bradley plans professional golf career". Nashua Telegraph. (New Hampshire). p. 31.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Pat Bradley at about.com
  5. "Prentice 1 better in Burdine golf". St. Petersburg Times. (Florida). Associated Press. January 8, 1973. p. 3C.
  6. McDermott, Barry (September 29, 1986). "Now they call her Payday Pat". Sports Illustrated. p. 82. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  7. Mickey, Lisa D. (October 18, 2018). "Bradley, Blalock to enter New Hampshire Golf Hall of Fame". Legends Tour.