Pat Bradley (golfer)


Pat Bradley 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. 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 and 1986. 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 and captained the team in 2000.
Bradley was inducted into the New Hampshire Golf Hall of Fame in 2018.

Professional wins

LPGA Tour (31)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory		Runner-up
1Jun 6, 1976Girl Talk Classic+1 Playoff Bonnie Lauer
Sandra Post
Judy Rankin
2Jul 10, 1977Bankers Trust Classic−6 2 strokes JoAnne Carner
Carol Mann
Kathy Whitworth
3Jun 25, 1978Lady Keystone Open−10 4 strokes Jane Blalock
4Jul 30, 1978Hoosier Classic−10 3 strokes JoAnne Carner
5Sep 4, 1978Rail Charity Classic−12 4 strokes Sharon Miller
6Jul 20, 1980Greater Baltimore Golf Classic−13 1 stroke Nancy Lopez
7Aug 10, 1980Peter Jackson Classic−15 1 stroke JoAnne Carner
8Mar 29, 1981Women's Kemper OpenE 5 strokes Debbie Massey
9Jul 26, 1981U.S. Women's Open−9 1 stroke Beth Daniel
10Jan 30, 1983Mazda Classic of Deer Creek−16 7 strokes Beth Daniel
11May 22, 1983Chrysler-Plymouth Charity Classic−7 1 stroke Stephanie Farwig
12Aug 28, 1983Columbia Savings Classic−11 Playoff Beth Daniel
13Nov 13, 1983Mazda Japan Classic−10 7 strokes Laurie Rinker
14Jun 16, 1985Rochester International−8 2 strokes Nancy Lopez
15Jul 28, 1985du Maurier Classic−10 1 stroke Jane Geddes
16Aug 25, 1985LPGA National Pro-Am−4 Playoff Amy Alcott
17Apr 6, 1986Nabisco Dinah Shore−8 2 strokes Val Skinner
18Apr 27, 1986S&H Golf Classic−16 1 stroke Janet Coles
19Jun 1, 1986LPGA Championship−11 1 stroke Patty Sheehan
20Jul 27, 1986du Maurier Classic−12 Playoff Ayako Okamoto
21Aug 17, 1986Nestle World Championship−9 2 strokes Betsy King
Nancy Lopez
22Mar 29, 1987Standard Register Turquoise Classic−6 2 strokes Christa Johnson
23Apr 16, 1989AI Star/Centinela Hospital Classic−8 1 stroke Nancy Lopez
Hollis Stacy
24Feb 4, 1990Oldsmobile LPGA Classic−7 Playoff Dale Eggeling
25Mar 25, 1990Standard Register Turquoise Classic−12 1 stroke Ayako Okamoto
26May 27, 1990LPGA Corning Classic−10 3 strokes Patty Sheehan
27May 19, 1991Centel Classic−10 1 stroke Ayako Okamoto
28Sep 3, 1991Rail Charity Golf Classic−19 Playoff Rosie Jones
30Sep 29, 1991MBS LPGA Classic−11 1 stroke Michelle Estill
31Jan 22, 1995HealthSouth Inaugural−5 1 stroke Beth Daniel

LPGA Tour playoff record
No.YearTournamentOpponentResult
11975Greater Ft. Myers Classic Sandra HaynieLost to par on second extra hole
21976Girl Talk Classic Bonnie Lauer
Sandra Post
Judy Rankin		Won with par on second extra hole
Lauer and Post eliminated with birdie on first hole
31976Wheeling Classic Jane BlalockLost to par on first extra hole
41983Columbia Savings Classic Beth DanielWon with birdie on first extra hole
51984Nabisco Dinah Shore Juli InksterLost to par on first extra hole
61985LPGA National Pro-Am Amy AlcottWon with birdie on second extra hole
71985Konica San Jose Classic Val SkinnerLost to par on first extra hole
81986du Maurier Classic Ayako OkamotoWon with birdie on first extra hole
91990Oldsmobile LPGA Classic Dale EggelingWon with birdie on first extra hole
101991Safeco Classic Rosie JonesWon with birdie on second extra hole

LPGA of Japan Tour (1)

1Co-sanctioned by the LPGA Tour

Legends Tour (1)

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.
CUT = missed the half-way cut.
DQ = disqualified
"T" = tied

Summary

Professional