To fans, athletes can be superhuman, larger than life physical specimens. But athletes can also be just that…fans.
In Keegan Bradley’s case, there is a lot going on in the Valley. Not only is he participating in this year’s Waste Management Open, but his beloved New England Patriots are playing in the Super Bowl just a ways down the road on Sunday…and Bradley has tickets.
“I haven’t gotten that far yet, but I’m going to go to the game,” Bradley said. “If I do end up winning the tournament, we will have to cut this media off short because I have to get to the game.”
Bradley has set himself up nicely to cut that media session short on Sunday. He shot a six under par in the opening round, which places him tied for third with Bubba Watson. Both golfers are one shot behind the leader.
“(It) feels so good to go out and play a really solid round tee to green. Made a bunch of putts, which feels good,” Bradley said. “It’s a relief to go out and shoot a good number in the first round to hopefully get my season going.”
One cause of his success this round was not overthinking the golf by putting in some research to the big game.
“I’m very up to date with what’s going on with everything, so my first thing to do after I play is go on ESPN.com, read anything about Deflate Gate or what’s up next,” Bradley said. “I’m so pumped. I never thought I’d get to go to a Super Bowl in my life, let along go and watch the Patriots player and win one.”
Now, there is still plenty of golf left to play, but if Bradley happens to be in that last group on Sunday, expect him to use any means necessary to get to the Super Bowl, whether those be legal practices or illegal.
“I will do whatever it takes to get to that game, so if I have to get in a car and go 150 miles an hour, I’m going to do it,” Bradley said. “I can’t be this close to a Super Bowl with the Patriots playing and not go. So I will be there at some point.”
Jared Cohen
