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. Bradley is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame.
Early life and family
Born in Westford, Massachusetts, Bradley was the only daughter among six children of Richard and Kay Bradley. 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.
Amateur career
Bradley won the New Hampshire Amateur in 1967 and 1969 and the New England Amateur from 1972-73. As a member of the Florida International University golf team, she was named an All-American in 1970. Bradley tied for 12th as an amateur at the 1973 Burdine's Invitational on the LPGA Tour.
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. Bradley's 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, then she added the 1981 U.S. Women's Open and the du Maurier Classic in 1985.
In 1986, she won three of the four LPGA majors - the du Maurier Classic, Nabisco Dinah Shore, and LPGA Championship. 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 17 tournaments, but made the cut in only eight. But she returned to form in 1989, winning once. Three more wins followed in 1990.
Bradley won four times in 1991 and captured her second money and scoring titles, and also was 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. 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.
Professional wins
LPGA Tour (31)
LPGA Tour playoff record (6â€"4)
LPGA of Japan Tour (1)
- 1983 Mazda Japan Classic (co-sanctioned with LPGA)
Legends Tour (1)
- 2005 BJ's Charity Championship (with Patty Sheehan; tie with Cindy Rarick and Jan Stephenson)
Other (4)
- 1975 Colgate Far East Ladies Tournament
- 1978 JCPenney Mixed Team Classic (with Lon Hinkle)
- 1989 JCPenney Classic (with Bill Glasson)
- 1992 JCPenney/LPGA Skins Game
Major championships
Wins (6)
1Won in a sudden-death playoff on the first playoff hole with a birdie.
Results timeline
^ The Women's British Open replaced the du Maurier Classic as an LPGA major in 2001.
DNP = did not play.
CUT = missed the half-way cut.
"T" = tied
DQ = disqualified
Green background for a win. Yellow background for a top-10 finish.
Summary
- Most consecutive cuts made â€" 38 (1974 LPGA â€" 1987 LPGA)
- Longest streak of top-10s â€" 11 (1989 Kraft Nabisco â€" 1991 U.S. Open)
Team appearances
Professional
- Solheim Cup (representing the United States): 1990 (winners), 1992, 1996 (winners)
- Handa Cup (representing the United States): 2006 (winners), 2007 (winners), 2008 (winners), 2009 (winners), 2010 (winners), 2011 (winners), 2012 (tie, Cup retained), 2013, 2014 (winners), 2015 (winners)
Solheim Cup record
See also
- List of golfers with most LPGA Tour wins
- List of golfers with most LPGA major championship wins
- Women's career grand slam
References
External links
- Pat Bradley at the LPGA Tour official site
- Pat Bradley at the Legends Tour official site
- Pat Bradley bio at about.com
- LPGA Hall of Fame