Pat Bradley (born March 24, 1951) is an American professional golfer. She became a member of the LPGA Tour in 1974 and won 31 tour events, including six major championships. She is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Pat Bradley
Personal information
Born (1951-03-24) March 24, 1951 (age 73)
Westford, Massachusetts, U.S.
Height5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Sporting nationality United States
ResidenceHyannis, Massachusetts, U.S.
Career
CollegeFlorida International
Turned professional1974
Former tour(s)LPGA Tour
Professional wins36
Number of wins by tour
LPGA Tour31
LPGA of Japan Tour1
Other5
Best results in LPGA major championships
(wins: 6)
Chevron ChampionshipWon: 1986
Women's PGA C'shipWon: 1986
U.S. Women's OpenWon: 1981
du Maurier ClassicWon: 1980, 1985, 1986
Women's British OpenDNP
Achievements and awards
World Golf Hall of Fame1991 (member page)
LPGA Tour
Money Winner
1986, 1991
LPGA Tour
Player of the Year
1986, 1991
LPGA Tour Vare Trophy1986, 1991
GWAA Female
Player of the Year
1986
LPGA William and
Mousie Powell Award
1991
LPGA Patty Berg Award2001
NH Golf Hall of Fame2018

Early life and family

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Bradley was born on March 24, 1951, in Westford, Massachusetts. She was the only daughter among six children of Richard and Kay Bradley.[1] Her father was an avid golfer, and her brothers include Mark, a PGA club professional in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, whose son Keegan Bradley won the PGA Championship in 2011. The Bradleys were named "Golf Family of the Year" in 1989 by the National Golf Foundation.[2] As a teenager, she was also an accomplished alpine ski racer.[3]

Amateur career

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Bradley won the New Hampshire Amateur in 1967 and 1969 and the New England Amateur in 1972 and 1973. As a member of the golf team of Florida International University in Miami, she was named an All-American in 1970.[3] In early 1973, Bradley tied for twelfth as an amateur at the Burdine's Invitational on the LPGA Tour.[4][5]

Professional career

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Bradley joined the LPGA Tour in 1974 and got her first win at the Girl Talk Classic in 1976 (she also finished second six times that year). Her breakout year was 1978, when she won three times. Her most fertile years came in the early to mid-1980s. She led the LPGA in wins in 1983 (4) and 1986 (5). Her first major came at the 1980 Peter Jackson Classic, followed by the U.S. Women's Open in 1981, and the du Maurier Classic in 1985.[4]

In 1986, Bradley won three of the four LPGA majors - the du Maurier Classic, Nabisco Dinah Shore, and LPGA Championship.[6] She finished fifth in the U.S. Women's Open, three strokes back, to narrowly miss the grand slam. Bradley won the money title and Vare Trophy that year, as well. In 1988, she was diagnosed with Graves' disease, and she played in 17 tournaments but made the cut in only eight. But she returned to form in 1989, winning once. Three more wins followed in 1990.[4]

Bradley won four times in 1991 and captured her second money and scoring titles, and was also named LPGA Tour Player of the Year for a second time. She was also inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. A New York Times survey of other LPGA Tour players published July 22, 1992 ranked Bradley as the tour's best long putter and best course manager as well as the best player on tour. The last of her LPGA victories came in 1995.

Sports psychologist Bob Rotella wrote in his 1996 book, Golf Is a Game of Confidence, that Bradley was the most mentally tough athlete he knew. She won a total of 31 tournaments on the LPGA Tour.[4] She was the third woman, behind Mickey Wright and Louise Suggs, to have completed the LPGA "Career Grand Slam". Bradley played on three U.S. Solheim Cup teams (1990, 1992, 1996) and captained the team in 2000. She was inducted into the New Hampshire Golf Hall of Fame in 2018.[7]

Professional wins

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LPGA Tour (31)

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Legend
LPGA Tour major championships (6)
Other LPGA Tour (25)
No. Date Tournament Winning score Margin
of victory
Runner(s)-up
1 Jun 6, 1976 Girl Talk Classic +1 (72-73-72=217) Playoff   Bonnie Lauer
  Sandra Post
  Judy Rankin
2 Jul 10, 1977 Bankers Trust Classic −6 (75-68-70=213) 2 strokes   JoAnne Carner
  Carol Mann
  Kathy Whitworth
3 Jun 25, 1978 Lady Keystone Open −10 (70-69-67=206) 4 strokes   Jane Blalock
4 Jul 30, 1978 Hoosier Classic −10 (69-69-68=206) 3 strokes   JoAnne Carner
5 Sep 4, 1978 Rail Charity Classic −12 (67-66-73-71=276) 4 strokes   Sharon Miller
6 Jul 20, 1980 Greater Baltimore Golf Classic −13 (69-70-67=206) 1 stroke   Nancy Lopez
7 Aug 10, 1980 Peter Jackson Classic −15 (65-72-69-71=277) 1 stroke   JoAnne Carner
8 Mar 29, 1981 Women's Kemper Open E (71-75-68-70=284) 5 strokes   Debbie Massey
9 Jul 26, 1981 U.S. Women's Open −9 (71-74-68-66=279) 1 stroke   Beth Daniel
10 Jan 30, 1983 Mazda Classic of Deer Creek −16 (68-69-69-66=272) 7 strokes   Beth Daniel
11 May 22, 1983 Chrysler-Plymouth Charity Classic −7 (73-73-66=212) 1 stroke   Stephanie Farwig
12 Aug 28, 1983 Columbia Savings Classic −11 (71-69-70-67=277) Playoff   Beth Daniel
13 Nov 13, 1983 Mazda Japan Classic −10 (72-70-64=206) 7 strokes   Laurie Rinker
14 Jun 16, 1985 Rochester International −8 (74-67-67-72=280) 2 strokes   Nancy Lopez
15 Jul 28, 1985 du Maurier Classic −10 (70-73-67-68=278) 1 stroke   Jane Geddes
16 Aug 25, 1985 LPGA National Pro-Am −4 (71-74-71-68=284) Playoff   Amy Alcott
17 Apr 6, 1986 Nabisco Dinah Shore −8 (68-72-69-71=280) 2 strokes   Val Skinner
18 Apr 27, 1986 S&H Golf Classic −16 (69-67-71-65=272) 1 stroke   Janet Coles
19 Jun 1, 1986 LPGA Championship −11 (67-72-70-68=277) 1 stroke   Patty Sheehan
20 Jul 27, 1986 du Maurier Classic −12 (73-70-67-66=276) Playoff   Ayako Okamoto
21 Aug 17, 1986 Nestle World Championship −9 (72-72-72-63=279) 2 strokes   Betsy King
  Nancy Lopez
22 Mar 29, 1987 Standard Register Turquoise Classic −6 (75-74-67-70=286) 2 strokes   Christa Johnson
23 Apr 16, 1989 AI Star/Centinela Hospital Classic −8 (72 69-67=208) 1 stroke   Nancy Lopez
  Hollis Stacy
24 Feb 4, 1990 Oldsmobile LPGA Classic −7 (66-65-74-76=281) Playoff   Dale Eggeling
25 Mar 25, 1990 Standard Register Turquoise Classic −12 (70-71-68-71=280) 1 stroke   Ayako Okamoto
26 May 27, 1990 LPGA Corning Classic −10 (69-70-66-69=274) 3 strokes   Patty Sheehan
27 May 19, 1991 Centel Classic −10 (70-68-69-71=278) 1 stroke   Ayako Okamoto
28 Sep 3, 1991 Rail Charity Golf Classic −19 (67-65-65=197) 6 strokes   Danielle Ammaccapane
29 Sep 22, 1991 Safeco Classic −8 69-67-72-72=280) Playoff   Rosie Jones
30 Sep 29, 1991 MBS LPGA Classic −11 (72-70-67-68=277) 1 stroke   Michelle Estill
31 Jan 22, 1995 HealthSouth Inaugural −5 (71-72-68=211) 1 stroke   Beth Daniel

LPGA Tour playoff record (6–4)

No. Year Tournament Opponent(s) Result
1 1975 Greater Ft. Myers Classic   Sandra Haynie Lost to par on second extra hole
2 1976 Girl Talk Classic   Bonnie Lauer
  Sandra Post
  Judy Rankin
Won with par on second extra hole
Lauer and Post eliminated by birdie on first hole
3 1976 Wheeling Classic   Jane Blalock Lost to par on first extra hole
4 1983 Columbia Savings Classic   Beth Daniel Won with birdie on first extra hole
5 1984 Nabisco Dinah Shore   Juli Inkster Lost to par on first extra hole
6 1985 LPGA National Pro-Am   Amy Alcott Won with birdie on second extra hole
7 1985 Konica San Jose Classic   Val Skinner Lost to par on first extra hole
8 1986 du Maurier Classic   Ayako Okamoto Won with birdie on first extra hole
9 1990 Oldsmobile LPGA Classic   Dale Eggeling Won with birdie on first extra hole
10 1991 Safeco Classic   Rosie Jones Won with birdie on second extra hole

LPGA of Japan Tour (1)

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1Co-sanctioned by the LPGA Tour

Legends Tour (1)

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Other (4)

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Major championships

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Wins (6)

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Year Championship Winning score Margin Runner-up
1980 Peter Jackson Classic −15 (65-72-69-71=277) 1 stroke   JoAnne Carner
1981 U.S. Women's Open −9 (71-74-68-66=279) 1 stroke   Beth Daniel
1985 du Maurier Classic −10 (70-73-67-68=278) 1 stroke   Jane Geddes
1986 Nabisco Dinah Shore −8 (68-72-69-71=280) 2 strokes   Val Skinner
1986 LPGA Championship −11 (67-72-70-68=277) 1 stroke   Patty Sheehan
1986 du Maurier Classic −12 (73-70-67-66=276) Playoff1   Ayako Okamoto

1Won in a sudden-death playoff on the first playoff hole with a birdie.

Results timeline

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Tournament 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980
LPGA Championship T22 T26 T2 T54 T10 T15
U.S. Women's Open CUT T16 T17 T4 T16 T26 T16
du Maurier Classic ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... T18 1
Tournament 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990
Kraft Nabisco Championship ... ... T15 2 6 1 3 T74 T6 T9
LPGA Championship T24 T12 T6 T2 T3 1 T21 T4 T9
U.S. Women's Open 1 T21 T8 T13 T12 T5 CUT CUT T3 T19
du Maurier Classic T2 T38 T5 T19 1 1 T25 T39 T2 T8
Tournament 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000
Kraft Nabisco Championship T3 T17 T12 T19 T16 T23 T35 T42 T13 CUT
LPGA Championship T2 T15 CUT T3 T8 T51 T11 T44 65 T23
U.S. Women's Open 2 T29 T4 T25 T3 T3 T28 T46 CUT
du Maurier Classic T23 CUT T52 CUT T53 CUT CUT T66 T33
Tournament 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
Kraft Nabisco Championship 77 CUT CUT
LPGA Championship DQ T56 CUT
U.S. Women's Open
Women's British Open ^

^ The Women's British Open replaced the du Maurier Classic as an LPGA major in 2001.

  Win
  Top 10
  Did not play

CUT = missed the half-way cut.
DQ = disqualified
"T" = tied

Summary

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Tournament Wins 2nd 3rd Top-5 Top-10 Top-25 Events Cuts made
Kraft Nabisco Championship 1 1 2 4 7 14 21 18
LPGA Championship 1 3 2 7 10 19 28 25
U.S. Women's Open 1 1 3 8 10 18 26 22
du Maurier Classic 3 2 0 6 7 11 21 17
Women's British Open 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Totals 6 7 7 25 34 63 96 82
  • Most consecutive cuts made – 38 (1974 LPGA – 1987 LPGA)
  • Longest streak of top-10s – 11 (1989 Kraft Nabisco – 1991 U.S. Open)

Team appearances

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Professional

  • Solheim Cup (representing the United States): 1990 (winners), 1992, 1996 (winners), 2000 (non-playing captain)
  • Handa Cup (representing the United States): 2006 (winners), 2007 (winners), 2008 (winners), 2009 (winners), 2010 (winners), 2011 (winners), 2012 (tie, Cup retained), 2013, 2014 (winners), 2015 (winners)

Solheim Cup record

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Year Total
matches
Total
W-L-H
Singles
W-L-H
Foursomes
W-L-H
Fourballs
W-L-H
Points
won
Points
%
Career 8 2-5-1 1-2-0 0-2-0 1-1-1 3.0 37.5%
1990 3 2-1-0 1-0-0 def. T. Johnson 8&7 0-1-0 lost w/ N. Lopez 2&1 1-0-0 won w/ N. Lopez 2&1 2.0 66.6%
1992 3 0-2-1 0-1-0 lost to P. Wright 4&3 0-1-0 lost w/ D. Mochrie 2&1 0-0-1 halved w/ D. Mochrie 0.5 16.6%
1996 2 0-2-0 0-1-0 lost to A. Sörenstam 2&1 0-0-0 0-1-0 lost w/ K. Robbins 6&5 0.0 0.0%

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Pat Bradley". Britannica Kids. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
  2. ^ Palm Beach Post, Jupiter resident Keegan Bradley, nephew of Hall of Famer Pat Bradley, is bound for PGA Tour October 19, 2010. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
  3. ^ a b Bryant, Ted (December 17, 1973). "Pat Bradley plans professional golf career". Nashua Telegraph. (New Hampshire). p. 31.
  4. ^ a b c d Pat Bradley at about.com
  5. ^ "Prentice 1 better in Burdine golf". St. Petersburg Times. (Florida). Associated Press. January 8, 1973. p. 3C.
  6. ^ McDermott, Barry (September 29, 1986). "Now they call her Payday Pat". Sports Illustrated. p. 82. Archived from the original on July 17, 2013. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  7. ^ Mickey, Lisa D. (October 18, 2018). "Bradley, Blalock to enter New Hampshire Golf Hall of Fame". Legends Tour.
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