S2 E18 | The Legendary Pat Bradley

Pat Bradley joins Hope Barnett in the newest episode of the Inside the LPGA podcast ahead of the Ryder Cup, where her nephew Keegan Bradley is captaining the team. The two talk about all of her legendary moments from her LPGA Career Grand Slam to helping grow the game. She and Keegan are making history this week as an aunt and nephew duo to captain a Solheim Cup and Ryder Cup team. Pat is insightful, inspiring and entertaining in the 18th episode this season.

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[Music] What’s up everybody and welcome to another episode of the Inside the LPGA podcast. This episode is special for many reasons, but we have to start with the most obvious. I am joined by the iconic Pat Bradley. Pat, thank you so much for joining me. This is a very busy week for you being in Massachusetts. you know, you’re from here and obviously we have an awesome tournament here at TBC Boston, but how’s it going? How excited are you to be here at TBC Boston in a very special room, which we’ll get to in a minute. Yes. Hope. Well, thank you very much. Welcome to the Northeast. Uh, yes, this is a special week for me. I grew up in Massachusetts, not far from TPC, and uh to be able to enjoy this tournament, FM is a great sponsor. Um they’ve done many things for these young players and I’ll be able to watch their talents and their skills and I can’t wait. This is a great course for them to test themselves. Yeah, this course is amazing. Um we have to start with the most obvious topic to talk about and that is the room that we are sitting in. So for anyone listening to this podcast, some people will be watching it. We are in a perfectly blue like baby blue room and this is the Pat Bradley room. This is incredible. I mean, I could spend hours in here just looking at everything and it it makes perfect sense why Masolf wanted to do this, but what was your reaction when they approached you wanting to have a whole room dedicated to you? Yes, I was I was thrilled. I was over the moon that u my collection would be here at Mass Golf in this room that they built for me. Um it’s just uh incredible. and to have all my trophies and my memorabilia together. You know, Massachusetts is a Boston is a terrific team town. Bruins, Celtics, you know, Patriots, Red Sox. And when I was doing my journey in golf, you know, I’m alone. I was an individual. Totally. And so, not many people knew my journey. and having this room and people coming through it and seeing um what I have done, they’re going to say, you know, you know, Pat Bradley did a lot of things. She did all right for herself. So, uh it’s just nice to know that um for eternity, my collection will be together. And the nice thing about it is hope is across my across the hall from here is the great Francis we met. down the hall is the Curtis s the Curtis sisters and of course behind me is the Donald Ross. So I’m going to have some great late night chats with these people and we’re going to talk about our journey in the game. That’s amazing. So it is amazing and I am grateful to Mascolf for putting this together. And I knew this was a special room when I saw crown molding. You know not every not every buildout has crown molding. So true. and they wanted this to feel like a room in my home and they hit they hit it perfectly. I love that. I hear that they even let you pick the the wall color, the paint. I did. My favorite color is blue. There you go. And your shirt for people watching. Same color. So, yes. So, um and it really, you know, it really lights up everything. Um and so I’m very very honored and and pleased to be here. Yeah. Let’s talk about your favorite thing in the room. There’s a lot of things to see. A lot of trophies, a lot of bags, a lot of everything. So, what’s your favorite part of the room? Well, the f most favorite part of my room is my case behind me where I have my six majors um encased and protected. My three Canadians, uh the uh Chevron Championship, uh the KPMG LPGA championship, and of course the women’s US Open that I won in 1981. So, it’s uh it’s very very very special. And I have my Soulheim bag, my captain’s bag uh not far, and then I have a wall of trophies uh behind me, which uh my 31 wins are encased in that trophy um in behind us. And I want to talk about the bell as well. I’ve heard the story many times, but I want to hear it from you, the person that was making the bell ring. It has to do with your mom, right? She would ring it. So tell us what the bell is and and just the backstory. Yes. Um my mom made a simple bell famous. Um my very first tournament I won was in Melbourne, Australia. It was the Colgate Far East. And of course with the time change, I had called home in Massachusetts and it was like 4 in the morning and my folks were so excited that I had won. They couldn’t sleep. They went downstairs. They go, “How do we celebrate? How do we celebrate?” Well, there was a decorative uh Swiss chalet bell. Mhm. By the fireplace. Mother grabbed it. We lived on 60 Main Street in Westford, Mass. She went out onto the front porch, started ringing this bell. The neighbors lights all lit up going, “Oh my gosh.” Okay. What’s going on? Everything okay? No. Pat just won her first tournament on the LPGA tour. So, from that moment on, my mom rang this bell and uh it is here with me in memory of her. um her love for for me and and you know wanting everyone to know that I had won on the LPGA tour. That’s awesome. So when the neighbors would hear the bell ring, they’re like they automatically knew. They’re like Pat won. Pat won this day. And she rang that bell a lot. So she did cuz you won a lot. But the year that I really want to talk about is 1986. That was like such a special year for you. Career Grand Slam. That’s the year you achieved it. So when you reflect back on that year, what was it? What was it? Things just clicking or I mean you won so many times. So would you say that was the most special year in your career? It was that hope. I mean I had been playing well. I had won tournaments but I had never been number one on the LPGA tour. Wow. I didn’t I had never been a Rolex player of the year. I had never been a ver trophy winner. And I had tried and tried and wanted it badly. So 1986 was my year. I made everything I looked at. I had players scratching their heads, “How did Pat get it up and down from here?” My brother Tom said to me, “Pat, you can get it up and down from a locked automobile.” So, I did. I made everything. And um I won three out of the four majors. You know that old saying, if would have, could have. Well, that could have been a grand slam year. Um I um shot 75 the first round of a women’s women’s open which I needed uh to make it the grand slam. And of course that old saying you know you can’t win it on Thursday but you can lose it right and I kind of shot myself in the foot on that Thursday but I fought back. I missed the playoff by two strokes. Uh Jane Gettys won it in a playoff but um I had won five events. uh that year. And again, it was fate. It was my year. Come hella high water, no matter what anybody did, I was going to do one better to be player of the year that year. And I I I mean, I I just wanted it once. And lo and behold, in 1991, I was player of the year again. So, um it was uh it was a great run. Uh but 86 was my year, I bet. So, it was like mind over matter a little bit. It was I was bound and determined uh to have it my year and I separated myself so much that um it was it was meant to be. The LPGA, which this is just incredible, but it’s been around for 75 years. When you reflect back on all of the memories and how much you’ve seen it grow, how proud are you to be like be a part of something like the LPGA and be able to see it grow how it has? I am thrilled. I mean, um, if it wasn’t for our 13 incredible founders, they were, uh, they were wonderful women who did not take no for an answer, who worked hard, persevered. If it wasn’t for them, there would not be me. There would not be Nelly, there would not be Megan Kang or Lydia Co. So, we owe so much to our to our founders. And you know I when I joined the tour in 74 the tour was only 25 years old. It was still very young still looking for their footing. And here we’re going to celebrate 75 years and uh to see where it has come. You know that old saying, the generation before me left it in greatstead for me to be successful and my generation left it in greatstead for the Nelly quarters and those young ladies to be successful and I know they’re going to pass pay it forward and and be great for the other the generations for the future. So, um, I’m just thrilled to be a small part of this, but if it’s our founders, it’s those 13 wonderful women that have made this moment for me. Yeah, we definitely owe it all to them or we wouldn’t be sitting here. So, when you look back on your rookie year, which was what, 1974? 74. Okay, that’s what I thought say 7475. What are some things that you all had to do that now players if they had to do it, it’d be like, whoa, what? Oh, boy. Oh, well, I remember um I remember distinctly uh many players going to the 18th green uh the scorers tent and the treasurer was writing out their checks right there so they could go to the pro shop, cash their check and head to the next event. That’s great. There was no direct deposit. That’s true. Uh, in my day, I mean, I I would get phone calls from my family going, “Pat, will you send home some of your checks?” Because I waited till I got a little bundle, right? And then I would send it home. But no, and and of course the the the women back in the day, they they set the course. They they did the the the the water hazard linings. They did it all. But um I do remember that players would wait in line to get their check right there at 18. That is so crazy. You would get paid day of some people some players needed that day of in order to get to the next event. So we have come a long way and you know I we played in Tucson, Arizona and and the tournament prize money was a total of 35,000. We had to divvy that 35,000 to, you know, to the players. That is And of course, today’s young ladies, they’re playing for 130 million. Yeah. So, uh, which is amazing. It is amazing. And it’s great to see they they they deserve it. They’ve earned it. They’ve worked hard. Um, so it’s all good. Next up, we have to talk about um something that’s been, you know, talked about a lot lately is your nephew, Keegan. He is going to be the RDER Cup captain for team USA. I mean, and to have two people in a family be Soulheim Cup and Ryder Cup captains. I mean, that’s history right there. So, how proud are you of him and to have played such a big part in his career? And I know he looks up to you. So, how proud are you? Well, I am extremely proud of Keegan. Um to think uh he is Ryder Cup captain. He’s got a big decision coming up soon. Um I told him that um whatever decision he makes will be the right one. Yeah. Um, so I’m just so proud of him and yes, when he called me and said, Pat, you know, we’ve made history. Uh, we got a Ryder Cup captain and a Soulheim cup captain in the same family. Um, it is just, um, so rewarding. Um, I know he’ll do the right thing. Um, he’ll trust his his uh process. He’ll trust his vice captains. They’ll keep a good eye on him. They’ll watch his back. And um I believe he’ll bring his he’ll bring the writer Cup home. Yeah. And you know his father, my brother Mark, his father taught him the fundamentals of the game. Taught him his swing. But I believe that my career inside the ropes inspired him to want to be walking the big stage, which is the fairways of the PGA Tour. So um it’s just been a a great journey for him and and uh as I say, I’m just so proud of him. Mhm. Do you remember the moment when he first got onto the PGA tour? Yes. He was uh you know, it was uh right out of college. He went through qualifying school and um I you know, he was so excited to be walking the fairways with you know, some of his mentors on tour like Phil Mickelson and Davis Love. Um he uh he couldn’t wait to walk those fairways and uh uh you know to see him with a bounce in his step and his club twirling. Oh yeah. You know he’s been doing that since he was a little boy. It’s all very natural. It’s all within him. Um so it’s just a thrill to watch him do his thing now. Definitely. Yeah. By the time this podcast comes out, we’ll know if he’ll be a playing captain or not. So I’m excited to find out. I know it’s going to be a big moment for for him. Yeah. And um I still don’t know which way it’s going to go, but whatever, you know, it’ll be the right one. For sure. He’ll make the right decision. No doubt. Well, reflecting back on your time as a Soulheim Cup captain and also, you know, playing, what do you think your favorite memory is from the Soulheim Cup? Well, it was been the first the first Soulheim, which was in 1990 at Lake Nona. Uh Nancy and I were teammates. We were a team and um we were kind of on the putting green getting ready to go to that first tea and we’re like talking back and forth to each other. Nance, you know, Pat Nancy would go, “Pat, how do you feel?” “Well, Nance, I’m a little nervous. You know, this is our first goaround. You know, we’re not sure what’s going to happen.” And I said to Nance, “How do you feel?” “Well, I’m a little nervous, too.” And I said, “Well, you know, Nance, I’m a little odd at times. You’re more even keel.” Yeah. I can I can take odd, you know, or you know, you can take even. And that’s how it happened. And I happened to hit the first T-shot in Soulheim Cup history. And um you know, as I look back on it, it uh it it’s so gratifying for me. Um we did not know uh what Soulheim would be. We were hoping it would mirror the RDER Cup, which it has. For sure. It has become a premier women’s tournament uh in in golf just like the RDER Cup in the men’s world. So, um and to know that I hit the first T-shot. Uh it’s very rewarding. That’s amazing. Oh, how cool. That just gave me chills to think about. Um when we look because this week we’re at TPC Boston, which is an incredible venue. The venues overtime have just gotten better and better and better. You know, played Pebble Beach, we played St. Andrews, and we played those or not Pebble Beach, but we played St. Andrews before, but how much does that speak to the growth of the game and how amazing is it to see from your point of view playing at those big venues? Well, I am excited that the LPGA and sponsors have gone that route. Um because these young women, they mirror the PGA men. Yeah, they mer in their work ethic, in their in their nutrition, in their swings. Uh, and so they can handle they can handle a golf course that was really built mainly for men. Yeah. Uh, TPC was built mainly for the men’s game. Pebble Beach might have been built mainly for the men’s game, but I am thrilled to see our young athletes have an opportunity to go to these iconic golf courses and show their skills and be tested and be able to play, you know, take on this TPC without a problem. for sure. And it’s a it’s a credit not only to their skill to them as young athletes, but to the LPGA and the sponsor for taking that risk. Absolutely. And putting us putting the LPGA on the golf courses. I was going to ask one more question and that is if you could give, you know, whether it’s a young girl maybe wanting to play on the LPJ tour one day or even a player playing out there, what piece of advice would you give them? You know, I I think the most important thing is to play within yourself. You know, find your support system. I had a great support system with my mom and my dad and my brothers. I had five brothers. Wow. They were uh they were great great support system. They they helped formulate my competitive spirit. So, I think it’s important to find, you know, to get that support system. also to find a coach and instructor that you can understand that you believe in that will enhance your swing your game and not try to change you right um so many years are lost so many time so much time is lost when you’re trying to be a perfectionist and I think um I think a young player you need to you know you need to find that core and and trust it and trust your swing trust yourself and you’ll be fine. I love it. Will we see you at the writer cup? I got my fingers crossed. All right. I love it. Well, if you’re there, I’ll be there. So, nice hope. All right. Um, well, thank you so much, Pat, for doing this. This is amazing. This room is incredible. I encourage anyone to come out here and check it out because it’s just awesome. So, thanks for catching up with me and yeah, go go team USA. Thank you, Hope. Appreciate it. Thank you for your interest and um glad to be with you. Thank you so much.