Keegan Bradley's Honest Admission About PGA Championship Preparation at Aronimink: "Came a Little Earlier"
250927 Team Captain Keegan Bradley of Team USA looks dejected during a fourball match on day 2 of The Ryder Cup on September 27, 2025 in New York. Photo: Jesper Zerman / BILDBYRAN / kod JZ / JZ0618 golf ryder cup day 2 bbeng depp *** 250927 Team Captain Keegan Bradley of Team USA looks dejected during a fourball match on day 2 of The Ryder Cup on September 27, 2025 in New York Photo Jesper Zerman BILDBYRAN kod JZ JZ0618 golf ryder cup day 2 bbeng depp PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxSWExNORxFINxDEN Copyright: JESPERxZERMAN BB250927JZ109
250927 Team Captain Keegan Bradley of Team USA looks dejected during a fourball match on day 2 of The Ryder Cup on September 27, 2025 in New York. Photo: Jesper Zerman / BILDBYRAN / kod JZ / JZ0618 golf ryder cup day 2 bbeng depp *** 250927 Team Captain Keegan Bradley of Team USA looks dejected during a fourball match on day 2 of The Ryder Cup on September 27, 2025 in New York Photo Jesper Zerman BILDBYRAN kod JZ JZ0618 golf ryder cup day 2 bbeng depp PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxSWExNORxFINxDEN Copyright: JESPERxZERMAN BB250927JZ109
Former U.S. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley heads into the 2026 PGA Championship looking to win his second title at the event after his 2011 victory at Atlanta Athletic Club.
During a press conference on Monday at Aronimink Golf Club, Bradley explained why he arrived early to get familiar with the course.
"That's why we came a little earlier and played the course. I just played balls today and going to play nine and nine," he said.
LA JOLLA, CA - JANUARY 31: Keegan Bradley plays his shot from the second tee on the South course during the Farmers Insurance Open on January 31, 2026, at Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla, CA. Photo by Karl Anderson/Icon Sportswire GOLF: JAN 31 PGA, Golf Herren Farmers Insurance Open EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon272260131057
LA JOLLA, CA - JANUARY 31: Keegan Bradley plays his shot from the second tee on the South course during the Farmers Insurance Open on January 31, 2026, at Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla, CA. Photo by Karl Anderson/Icon Sportswire GOLF: JAN 31 PGA, Golf Herren Farmers Insurance Open EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon272260131057
Bradley believes the added preparation time could give him an advantage heading into the major championship week.
"I think coming a little earlier was helpful and then these next two days, I get a little feel for it too," Bradley said.
Back in 2011, Keegan Bradley won the PGA Championship after defeating Jason Dufner in a playoff.
He had a tough start with an opening round of 71 but then played the next three rounds in 64, 69, and 68 to finish at 8-under and force a two-way tie for the lead with Dufner.
Bradley’s performance at Aronimink will determine if his adjusted preparation pays off.
Keegan Bradley Talks About What Makes the PGA Championship Unique From Other Events
In the same press conference, Bradley also opened up about how the PGA Championship is different from other events.
He praised the PGA Championship for its balanced course setup, crediting chief championships officer Kerry Haigh for doing “an unbelievable job” with major venues.
At the same time, Bradley contrasted it with the U.S. Open, saying its setup is often designed to make conditions “ridiculously hard to the point of being unfair.”
Bradley said the British Open is shaped by weather, while The Masters is always demanding. He added that the PGA Championship is more unpredictable, with winning scores ranging from 3-under to 15-under.
Last year, Bradley finished tied for eighth at the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow. This season, before arriving at Aronimink Golf Club, he placed tied for 21st at The Masters.
He followed that with a T12 finish at the RBC Heritage and now heads into a strong PGA Championship field featuring defending champion Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, and others. The event runs from May 14 to May 17.
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Written by
Ankita Yadav
Edited by
Pulkit Prabhav