Wheatley Hills member Bradley leads PGA

JOHNS CREEK, Ga.

There is a way to go before the name "Keegan Bradley" strikes an instant chord with golf fans. "The worst," he said, "is when you sign an autograph and the kid looks at you and asks you what your name is."

Bradley's galleries are, shall we say, not yet massive. He began the second round of the PGA Championship Friday afternoon on the back nine, which meant he was finishing on the front at the same time Tiger Woods was on No. 18. Guess where most of the spectators were.

"I'm near the lead and there's nobody out there because I'm on the wrong side," Bradley said. "I mean, it felt like a Hooters Tour event. It was great. It was a relaxing atmosphere. It didn't feel like a major, to be honest with you."

A large part of the charm of major championships is that guys who are not Woods or Phil Mickelson can wind up shooting 64 and tying for the lead at 5 under, as Bradley did Friday. Guys such as him are popular in their own realms, such as his family (including aunt Pat, an LPGA Hall of Famer), the campus of St. John's (his alma mater) and Wheatley Hills Golf Club in East Williston, where he is a member.

Bradley is a very big name at Wheatley Hills, and was so even before he won the Byron Nelson Championship this year as a PGA Tour rookie.

"Wheatley Hills has a big St. John's alumni membership, and we would play there during the school year," the Woodstock, Vt., native said. "I'd get to know those guys and they took me under their wing."

He spent the whole summer after his senior year at the club, working on his game and receiving encouragement from people who ultimately gave him an honorary membership. "They are such good guys, I don't think I'd be out there if not for them."

That was pertinent Friday, after he tied with Jason Dufner for first place while Woods, one of his idols, missed the cut. It will be even more of a story Sunday, should he win at the Atlanta Athletic Club. Golf fans will hear more of what the national media heard after his second-round 64. For starters, they will learn that St. John's competes in golf as well as basketball.

"We played all over Long Island. We played Bethpage Black every Monday when it was closed, which was spectacular," he said. "We even went out in the Hamptons and played some tough courses, some tough, tough U.S. Open- style courses that I think can help me now when I'm a pro."

Bradley could really have been a household name today had he shot 62, something no one has ever done in a major. It was within his reach as he was 6 under par with two holes to go. So did he start dreaming a little?

"You know, I probably shouldn't say this, but I did. I had about a 10-footer on 8, and I'm thinking 'Boy, if I could make this, 9 is a birdie hole, I've got a shot at this.' That's probably about the worst thing I could have thought at the time. But it was interesting."

Plus, it was fun, even though he made pars on both holes. His gallery wasn't huge, but it was fervent because it included his sister, Madison, who left her son, Aidan (middle name is Keegan), in a stroller with her mom.

"We usually switch after nine holes, but he was making all those birdies and my mom said to stay out there," Madison said, referring to her brother, a big name in their household and maybe many other places very soon.