New England golf fans may vote for Keegan Bradley as the United States Sports Academy’s Male Athlete of the Month for August. The Vermont native made the cut, thanks to his first-ever major championship win.
“Playing in his first major tournament, the 25-year-old Bradley sunk a par putt on the third playoff hole to win the PGA Championship over Jason Dufner,” according to the USSA. “He joined [Massachusetts native] Francis Ouimet and Ben Curtis as the only golfers to win in their first start in a major championship.”
The USSA noted that Bradley, from Woodstock, Vt., was the first player to win a major with a long putter. He was also the first American to win a major since Phil Mickelson captured the 2010 Masters, and was the favorite to win the PGA Tour’s Rookie of the Year honor.
On the women’s side, Tiger Woods will likely vote early and often for LPGA Tour star Suzann Pettersen as August’s Female Athlete of the Month. Woods, who teamed with the long-hitting Pettersen during last month’s charity golf exhibition hosted by his close college friend, credited the world’s No. 2 golfer with the pair’s third-place finish in the Notah Begay III Foundation Challenge.
“She played great,” Woods, on his website, said of Pettersen. “She definitely carried me.”
Despite the praise from the former No. 1 in men’s golf, Pettersen earned her spot on the USSA ballot not from shouldering the load as Woods’ partner but because of her come-from-behind victory at last month’s LPGA Safeway Classic.
“For coming back from nine strokes down and winning the Safeway Classic Presented by Coca-Cola,” the USSA website states, “Suzann Pettersen has been nominated for the United States Sports Academy’s August female Athlete of the Month.”
After finishing the final round with the lowest round of the week, a 7-under 64, Pettersen defeated Na Yeon Choi in a one-hole, sudden-death playoff at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club’s Ghost Creek Golf Course, USSA noted.
“Pettersen started the final round nine shots behind Choi but she had five birdies and one eagle to reach the top of the leaderboard,” added the USSA.
Pettersen and Bradley each face world-class talent. In addition to going up against against tennis star Serena Williams, Pettersen will also have to beat U.S. Open champ Rory McIlroy’s new squeeze and tennis’ top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki and three track & field stars.
Wozniacki, who will meet Williams in the semifinals at the U.S. Open in New York on Saturday night, earned her nomination with last month’s win at the New Haven Open event, with McIlroy in attendance.
Bradley’s competition included August’s top performers in track & field, NASCAR, and major league baseball. As of Friday evening, Pettersen (43.69%) and Bradley (42.88%) had commanding leads in their races.
Winners of each month’s balloting are eligible for USSA’s Athlete of the Year. Media members and representatives of sports organizations and governing bodies comprise an international voting committee that chooses Athletes of the Month nominees. Mickelson finished fifth in the voting for Male Athlete of the Year in 2010.
You may cast your votes here through September 13 at noon.
(Emily Kay is a regular contributor to New England Golf Monthly. Check her out on the Waggle Room, Boston Golf Examiner, National Golf Examiner, and GottaGoGolf websites. You may also follow Kay on Twitter @golfexaminer.)
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