Keegan Bradley isn’t just enjoying a career renaissance; he’s also changing the script on his reputation as a closer. After starting his career with a rocky 0-for-4 while holding 54-hole leads, Bradley has now won two of his last three: the 2023 Travelers Championship and the 2024 BMW Championship, winning the second leg of the PGA Tour Playoffs for just the second time in his career (he also won in 2018).

Not that Bradley did anything spectacular for the first 16 holes Sunday at Castle Pines GC. Adam Scott sputtered, and Ludvig Aberg found the water on the par-5 14th when it looked like he might overtake Bradley. Bradley, for his part, avoided the big mistake with ease by birdieing the opening hole and then making a parade of pars (making par on 14 of the last 17 holes, a bogey on 15 the only blemish before a meaningless bogey on the last) that proved to be enough after the Ryder Cup captain hit a 5-iron from 227 yards on the par-5 17th to 16 feet for a decisive two-putt birdie.

Bradley birdied 21 with an Odyssey Versa Jailbird mid-length mallet, a club designed to improve alignment via alternating black and white stripes on the clubhead. While his work with the putter was helpful, Bradley’s play on the greens was the catalyst.

Bradley ranked second in strokes earned/approach this week and was second in greens in regulation. Bradley uses a split set of irons, with the more forgiving Srixon ZX5 model in his 3- through 5-irons and the blade-like ZX7 in his short irons, which helps Bradley launch the ball downrange with more control on shorter approach shots.

Ironically, Bradley won, just like last year at Travelers, despite posting higher scores in each round. This time 66-68-70-72.

Like a baseball player loading the bases before making the final out, Bradley created some tension but still finished the job.

Ball: Srixon Z-Star Diamond

Director: Ping G430 LST (Fujikura Ventus Black 6X), 10.5 degrees

3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10, 16.5 degrees

5-wood: TaylorMade Qi10, 19 degrees

Irons (3-5): Srixon ZX5 Mk II; (6-PW): Srixon ZX7 MK II

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore (52, 58 degrees)

Putten: Odyssey Versa Jailbird Medium