CROMWELL, Conn. — Keegan Bradley hasn't heard roars this loud for him since his Ryder Cup debut at Medinah in 2012, especially when he walked up the 18th green Sunday at the Travelers Championship and turned a one-shot deficit into a stunning one-shot victory over Tommy Fleetwood.
On the one-year anniversary of Bradley accepting the job as Ryder Cup captain, he made the strongest case yet he should be brining his clubs to Bethpage Black.
With equal parts of grit and passion, the 39-year-old Bradley rallied from a three-shot deficit with four holes to play with a 9-iron to 6 feet for birdie on the final hole, winning his second big title in 10 months and denying the ever gracious Fleetwood his first PGA Tour win.
Bradley now has more wins in the last year than any American except Scottie Scheffler. He is No. 9 in the Ryder Cup standings, a career-best No. 7 in the world ranking.
''This changes the story a little bit,'' Bradley said about his Ryder Cup role. ''I never would have thought about playing if I hadn't won. This definitely opens the door to play. I don't know if I'm going to do it or not, but I certainly have to take a pretty hard look at what's best for the team.''
Two birdies over the last four holes, including a 35-foot putt on the 15th that kept alive his hopes, sent Bradley to a 2-under 68 for a one-shot victory over Fleetwood (72) and Russell Henley, who chipped in across the the 18th green for a birdie and a 69.
Bradley, who started the day three shots behind Fleetwood, never led until he rolled in the birdie putt before a delirious, sunbaked crowd at the TPC River Highlands.
It was crushing for Fleetwood, who has a reputable world record but is 0 for 84 in regular PGA Tour starts. He missed a pair of putts in the 6-foot range twice over the last five holes. With a one-shot lead from the middle of the 18th fairway, he came up just short and took three putts from 50 feet away.