Keegan Bradley proud of St. John's roots

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- The lush fairways of Augusta National only seem like a long way from the sidewalks of Jamaica, Queens. Keegan Bradley, reigning PGA champion, insists that a golfer can get anywhere from St. John's.

"It's a pretty cool thing. Andrew Svoboda plays on the Nationwide Tour and he's had a second already this year," Bradley said of a fellow St. John's alumnus. "I think it just breeds good players by the courses we play. We play a lot on Long Island."

"It's a specific type of player that goes to St. John's, maybe a guy who got overlooked, has a little chip on his shoulder and wants to do well and work hard. It's almost a mentality, living in areas like Queens. It becomes part of you," he said. "People are just hard workers and want to succeed."

Bradley is hopeful about his first Masters. "Well," he said, "I've won every major I've ever played in." After the laughs, he was serious in adding: "I think there's a bit of first-time ignorance almost. You don't know. You just go out and play the course. I think that helps sometimes.