Bradley Earns 2nd Pga Win

Golf

Michael Bradley missed an 8-inch putt on the 11th hole then managed to play the dangerous last seven holes on the wind-blown Blue Monster 1 under-par to win the Doral-Ryder Open by one stroke Sunday in Miami, over John Huston and Billy Mayfair.

Bradley’s second career victory on the PGA Tour came when a closing 71 put him at 10-under-par 278. Huston, whose 67 was bettered by no one in the last round, was trying for his second victory this year.

And Mayfair, who defeated Tiger Woods in a playoff last week, was trying for his second victory in a row after going more than two years without a win.

But a bogey on the 17th hole when he missed a 3-1/2-foot putt did in Mayfair despite his closing with a very strong 69.

Bradley somehow managed to get his nerves back together after missing perhaps the shortest putt anyone ever missed on tour when they were really trying to make it.

“That little putt on No. 11 really shocked me,” he said. “I just told myself I had to regroup and try to make some birdies coming down the stretch.”

He got the only birdie he needed on No. 16 when he made a 10-footer to get to 10-under.

Nowhere was Bradley’s nerve tested more than on the dangerous 18th hole, when he drove perfectly then played a 6-iron from 169 yards to the safe right side of the green - away from the water.

He then chipped to 5 feet and rolled in the putt to make the winning par.

Vijay Singh, Stewart Cink and Mike Brisky finished at 281, three strokes back, and Davis Love III - who matched Huston’s closing 67 - and Scott Hoch were at 282.

Tiger Woods, who closed with a 73 and finished at 283, added a ninth-place finish to the two seconds and a third he has on the PGA Tour this year.

Greater Austin Open

Michael Allen won the battle of survival at the $225,000 Greater Austin Open, taking a two-shot victory over Gene Sauers and Chris Zambri under horrific scoring conditions.

Golfers were faced with winds at The Hills Country Club in Austin, Texas, that reached 40 mph and a chill factor which dropped to 22 degrees. No golfers were able to break par 72 on the final day after 29 had achieved that on Saturday.

Allen’s winning total of 76-280 was the second highest in Nike Tour history.