Bradley shows first-timers can win majors

If first-timers aren’t supposed to win majors, Keegan Bradley didn’t get the notice.

He won the 2011 PGA Championship and now takes his first crack at winning the Masters Tournament.

“Well, I’ve won every major I’ve ever played in,” Bradley said, joking about winning the Masters in his Augusta debut. “So I don’t think it’s that hard, to be honest.”

The 25-year-old pro’s family isn’t foreign to making golf history: His aunt, Pat, is one of six golfers to complete the LPGA career gland slam.

“Some of my earliest golf memories are watching her play inside the ropes,” Bradley said. “She’s always giving me advice – always. It’s cool. I can talk to Pat. She can understand what I’m going through. She knows what it’s like to be at a major and have your whole family in town and figuring out what to do with practice schedules.”

Though he’s had his own professional success, Bradley admitted he has felt overwhelmed in the past.

Talks with golf veterans such as his aunt have helped. Those golfers also include Jack Nicklaus and Phil Mickelson, with the latter a frequent practice partner.

Bradley often finds himself just watching Mickelson, seeing how he prepares. Bradley gets specific advice from Mickelson about certain holes, advice that involves which pins to go at and where to hit certain shots.

Bradley hopes to reach Mickelson’s standing in the sport some day.

“You can just tell once he comes in here, he’s a champion and he deserves to be treated like one,” Bradley said. “And it’s just inspiration for me to hopefully get to that level.”