It may be just a ceremonial offering that may not even air on NESN, but don’t tell PGA champ Keegan Bradley that.
The New England native showed up at TPC Boston for this week’s Deutsche Bank Championship with his golf bag over his left shoulder and a baseball in his right hand, according to the Associated Press’ Doug Ferguson. Before heading to the practice range, Bradley — a life-long Red Sox fan from Hopkinton, Mass., by way of Woodstock, Vt. — made it clear he had other priorities.
“First, I’ve got to warm up,” Bradley told his caddie, according to Ferguson. The 25-year-old PGA Tour rookie, who’ll make his first appearance before a home-town crowd at the tour’s second of four FedEx Cup playoff venues starting Friday, meant his throwing arm.
Indeed, Bradley grew increasing anxious about his turn on the Fenway Park mound to throw out the first pitch before a three-game series between the BoSox and their arch rivals, the New York Yankees. After all, he said in a Twitter blast on Monday, he had no desire to become a member of the first-pitch Hall of Shame.
“Every time I think of the first pitch tomorrow I get butterflies and sweaty palms,” Bradley tweeted. “Needless to say I’m nervous. #nobababooey”
Howard Stern fans, among whom Bradley counts himself, are well aware that the radio talk show host’s long-time producer threw a ceremonial first pitch before a 2009 New York Mets game that all who saw it believe was “the worst in the history of modern Major League Baseball,” according to MLB.com.
With Twitter followers across the golf spectrum offering Bradley advice that only Nuke LaLoosh (of “Bull Durham” fame) could relate to — “don’t think, Meat..just throw,” from fellow rookie Jamie Lovemark; Golf Digest’s Ron Sirak suggested Bradley “wear garters” — we were sure the two-time tour winner would do just fine.
Even with all the words of encouragement, however, Bradley grew antsy as his moment on the mound grew near. In fact, he said he expected to be more afraid of bouncing his toss than he was during his championship run at Atlanta Athletic Club two and a half weeks ago.
“The first pitch is rapidly approaching. And I’m getting more and more nervous!!” Bradley typed on Twitter Tuesday. “#waymorenervousthanpga”
He drove the point home during an appearance on “The Big Show” on Boston’s WEEI sports talk radio Tuesday afternoon. “My heart’s gonna be pounding way more than it was at the PGA,” Bradley said.
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