Bradley claims stunning USPGA triumph

History was made in Atlanta tonight as little-known Keegan Bradley, who was five shots behind with only three holes left and in the first major of his life, beat fellow American Jason Dufner in a three-hole play-off to become USPGA champion.

Not only is Bradley the first player to capture a major with a long putter, but also seven majors in a row have now been taken by first-time winners – and that has not happened before either.

How it was Bradley and not Dufner, however, almost defied belief.

The 25-year-old, whose aunt Pat won six majors and is in the sport’s Hall of Fame, looked to have blown his chances of becoming only the second player since 1913 to win on his major debut when he triple-bogeyed the short 15th.

But the world number 108, trying to emulate Ben Curtis in the 2003 Open at Sandwich, birdied the 16th and then made a near 40-footer for another at the 160-yard 17th.

In the group behind, meanwhile, world number 80 Dufner also went in the water at the 259-yard 15th and, after doing well to escape with a bogey there, he failed to get up and down from sand on the next and then three-putted the 17th.

Suddenly they were level on eight under par and after both parred the last – no mean effort with the lake in play for the first and second shots – to beat Dane Anders Hansen by one, they returned to the 16th.

Dufner almost holed his second shot, but Bradley also hit in to within five feet of the flag and he was the one to make the birdie putt.

A par was good enough to make the gap two as Dufner three-putted the 17th once more and, although Dufner made a brilliant birdie on the last, Bradley’s par secured the title.