by Captain Keegan ruined what looked like a certain career -moment for Tommy Fleetwood on Sunday afternoon in TPC River Highlands.
Instead of that Fleetwood picked up his inaugural PGA Tour victory, it was Keegan Bradley who came at the top of the Travelers Championship.
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Bradley, the leader of the United States for the upcoming Ryder Cup, bewildered Fleetwood and Birdied The last hole to win a one-shot victory over the Travelers Championship, the last characteristic event of the PGA Tour season. Bradley placed a 2-under 68 in his final round to pick up the victory.
Fleetwood dominated the field on Saturday to build a lead of three shots after the 54-hole Mark. He hit each fairway and placed a 7-under 63 in the third round. While Russell Henley placed a career-low 61 and Bradley corresponded to Fleetwood’s song, Fleetwood still took his huge lead in the final round.
Scottie Scheffler of the Best Ranking struggled on Saturday, which was also his 29th birthday. Scheffler, who shared the lead in the Midway Point, opened his round with a triple Bogey – which he has never done before during his PGA Tour career. Eventually he posted a 72 on Saturday to fall back nine shots.
The big lead of Fleetwood, however, disappeared almost immediately on Sunday. He made three bogeys in his first four holes, although he limited his damage with a Birdie there on the second, and made it turn on 2-over day. Bradley match him on 14-under halfway through the round, thanks to a wild 64-footer from over the green for Birdie on the ninth.
However, Bradley could not maintain the momentum. He bogey the next hole to give Fleetwood his lead again, and then Fleetwood pushed that lead to two after putting his ride on the par-3 11th within 15 feet. He again two holes later after he had gone to the par-5 13th, who even brought him back in the day. Both Bradley and Henley Birded also that gap, so his lead remained on two strokes.
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But Fleetwood Bogey again on the Par-3 16th when his tee shot landed far beyond the green. That opened the door for Bradley, who suddenly was only a shot back. Henley and Jason Day Bogeyed, who pushed them out and turned it into a two -man race.
But Fleetwood saved his par on the 17th and then strived for his drive at the last gap. But Bradley landed his approach on the 18th, not even 6 feet of the cup.
Fleetwood, which landed close to the front of the green, ended up three times in front of a bogey. He pushed an 8-foot just to the right of the cup to save his par and force a play-off.
But with the green liberated, Bradley sank his putt to guarantee the victory at the last hole.
Fleetwood was number 17 this week in the official world golf ranking. He only missed a single cut this season, which came to the US Open last week, and he now has five top 10 finishes in the year. The last victory of Fleetwood came to the Dubai Invitational during the DP World Tour last year, and he has been established in the European Ryder Cup teams in recent years. He almost took his first Tour victory in 2023, although he fell open at the RBC Canadian in a play -off by Nick Taylor. Fleetwood has 42 Top-10 Finishes on tour, which is the most by every player without a victory in the past four decades.
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Bradley has now won eight times on the PGA Tour in his career. Sunday’s victory also marked his first of the season. He was number 21 in the world ranking and he has now secured three top 10 Finishes in his last four starts.
Although it is only a matter of time before Fleetwood joins the circle of the winner in the United States, that will have to wait a little longer.
And although it will not count on the scoreboard, the victory of Sunday as an early point for the United States in the coming battle in Bethpage Black this fall. Based on the scenes at the last Green, it was an incredible preview of what will certainly come.
