Nearly a year ago, then-rookie Keegan Bradley captured the PGA Championship in a playoff to complete a dream maiden campaign.
With two wins in hand, including the Wanamaker trophy, it seemed Bradley might even get the opportunity to represent his country on the American Presidents Cup team. Captain Fred Couples, however, denied Bradley a spot.
Instead, Couples selected FedEx Cup champion (and son of assistant captain Jay Haas) Bill Haas and Tiger Woods with his two wild-card picks.
As it stands right now, Keegan Bradley would have to rely on the pick of Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III to earn a trip to Medinah at the end of September. Bradley is ninth on the points list; the top eight automatically qualify.
Bradley knows where he stands.
"I'm thinking about it," he said Monday at the media day for the Deutsche Bank Championship. "I'm trying not to think about it. But it's definitely on my mind at all times."
The pressure he feels now is somewhat self-applied. Bradley has posted just one top-25 finish since the Shell Houston Open, going from a lock to outside the top eight. Going into his major title defense at Kiawah Island, Bradley is trying not to do anything differently - both in order to keep the Wanamaker trophy and avoid another heartbreak.
"It's difficult, because I just missed out on the Presidents Cup last year," he said, "so I really want this pretty bad, and that can be a negative."
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