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NORTON, Mass. – Keegan Bradley desperately wants to give his New England fans a winning performance. Unfortunately, he’s never really come close at TPC Boston. In six previous appearances at the Dell Technologies Championship, his best finish is a tie for 13th in 2012. That was the year he shot 63 in the third round. Alas, that only moved him within 13 shots of the leader. Two years later, he opened with a 65, leaving him in solo second … and then he gradually dropped down the leaderboard to finish tied for 16th. Yes, the Vermont native – who’s also an unabashed Boston sports fan — gets tons of support here. That also comes with tons of pressure. Now, though, he thinks he can properly channel that pressure. An opening 4-under 67 giving him a share of the early lead suggests this might be the year. “I’ve learned to love coming here,â€� Bradley said. “It used to be a very tough week for me. I put so much pressure on myself. But I’ve learned to go with it.â€� He’s also learning how to let go of disappointment. A week ago, his third-round 62 at THE NORTHERN TRUST moved him into solo second after 54 holes. A day later, in the final group with eventual winner Bryson DeChambeau, he suffered a free-fall, his 7-over 78 leaving him tied for 34th. Considering he hasn’t won a PGA TOUR event in six years and has just one top-3 finish in his last 119 starts, it was a bitter finish. But by the middle of this week, he was over it. “It was tough, because I felt like that was my day to kind of tell everybody that maybe I was back here and I was here to stay,â€� Bradley said. “I may have put too much pressure on myself. But it’s nice to come right back out and play quickly.â€� Will he keep riding the momentum – and successfully manage the expectations – for the final three rounds this week? Bradley certainly hopes so, but it’ll be difficult not to let his mind wander. “I would love to give the fans and my family who don’t get to come to a lot of tournaments see me compete and do well, maybe win,â€� he said. “That would be incredible. So always in the back of my mind, I think how amazing that would be. How cool that would be. “And that’s something that I’ll have to be aware of this week.â€� NOTABLES DJ’S GUARANTEE … In eight career starts at TPC Boston, Dustin Johnson has three top-10 finishes. He’s only held the lead once in 32 rounds here, and has only been inside the top-5 once entering the final round. His promise: That all changes this year. “I don’t understand why I haven’t had more success here because I like the golf course,â€� he said after an opening 68. “I feel like it sets up well for me. And I’m going to have success this year.â€� OFF THE BOTTOM OF THE SHOE … Marc Leishman’s approach into the par-4 sixth was sailing long right and heading into trouble – until it bounced off the bottom of the shoe of a fan who had stumbled and fallen backwards while trying to get out of the way. The ball ricocheted onto the green, and Leishman capitalized on the break by rolling in the birdie putt from 56 feet, 11 inches. “First time that’s ever happened to me,â€� said Leishman, who shot a 68. “It’s nice when it does happen … Hopefully I don’t need those kind of breaks later in the week.â€� Click here for the video of the shoe shot. TURF TALK … A week ago, Chris Kirk tied for last among all players who made the cut at THE NORTHERN TRUST. This week, he’s off to a great start with a 4-under 67. The difference, he said, is his ability to read the greens at TPC Boston after struggling last week at Ridgewood. And why is that? “I suck on poa annua,â€� Kirk said. He said other than a solo second in the 2013 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, his track record is horrible on poa annua greens. “I wish I somehow had any clue what I did that week,â€� he said. “I’m still using the same putter right now that I used that week.â€� Bentgrass greens, like at TPC Boston, and bermudagrass greens are no problem. “At least I feel good on two out of the three surfaces we play,â€� Kirk said. FEELING FRESH … Beau Hossler played six straight weeks earlier this season. He had another stretch of five straight weeks. But this week is just his third start in the last six weeks. “I feel really fresh, where a lot of players probably don’t right now,â€� Hossler said after his 67. “I would say my game isn’t exactly where I want it to be. But as far as mentally, I feel totally rested and prepared to compete.â€� Hossler’s fast start is no surprise – the rookie is fifth on TOUR in first-round scoring average. QUOTABLES They might be taking an early weekend. Should be in school studying.I’ve learned more about my game this year than any other season, no doubt.

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SOUTHAMPTON, Bermuda - Doug Ghim didn't begin his rookie PGA TOUR season exactly as planned. Three made cuts in 11 starts, with just one top-25 finish. Then the COVID-19 pandemic hiatus. RELATED: Full leaderboard | Featured Groups Ghim secured his first TOUR card with a gutsy up-and-down on the 72nd hole of the 2019 Korn Ferry Tour Championship, punctuated by an emotional fist-pump that resonated across the golf world. "I was so glad to make it (to the TOUR), but there wasn't much time for me to reflect on what the differences were," Ghim said. "Seeing guys like Will Zalatoris and Davis Riley and Scottie Scheffler doing as well as they have done, I didn't have that type of success for me to feel settled in. Kind of just barely made it, and all of a sudden I was running on fumes and trying to compete against even better players on harder golf courses." The hiatus gave Ghim a chance to refocus and experiment, both with his swing and equipment. The results have shown. The 24-year-old arrived at this week's Bermuda Championship with two top-25s in his last three starts, and he has maintained the momentum early at Port Royal Golf Club. Ghim carded an opening-round, 7-under 64 - all seven birdies coming in his final 12 holes - to stand one back of early leader Peter Malnati. In a normal season, Ghim's 184th-place finish on the 2019-20 FedExCup would have necessitated a return to the Korn Ferry Tour Finals, with no guarantee of maintaining TOUR status. But with an adjusted eligibility policy ensuring that all 2019-20 TOUR members maintained TOUR status in 2020-21, Ghim earned a second life of sorts. Entering the Bermuda Championship at No. 70 on the 2020-21 FedExCup, the 2017 U.S. Amateur runner up is maximizing the situation. "The comeback to golf, the four or five events that I got to play before the (2019-20) season was over were huge for me ... it gave me confidence, because I saw everything going in the right direction," Ghim said. "And the idea that everyone starts back at zero was amazing for me, because it's really hard to come back into a season where you're (184th) in the FedExCup and trying to make the Playoffs from there. "Even if I was playing great, you already feel like you're way behind. So it was a nice refresher to get to (the Safeway Open) and see everyone at zero, play well, and be in a good position right off the bat." During the hiatus, Ghim changed to a set of clubs similar to those he played in college - "similar feels, similar shafts and everything." He started working with a new mental coach, striving to view things from a fresh perspective. The University of Texas alum has always maintained an appreciation for the opportunity to play golf for a living. His parents, Jeff and Susan, each immigrated from South Korea and later met in Chicago - Susan was a flight attendant; Jeff worked in architecture after serving in the South Korea military. They worked hard to support their son's dreams, making use of twilight rates at public courses and the American Junior Golf Association's grant program. Now Ghim is living out his dream on the PGA TOUR - and positioned to chase a title on the shores of Bermuda. "It was nice to get away and try to realize that I had a great opportunity to be here on TOUR, and not put too much pressure on myself," Ghim said. "I knew that if I could just play the way that I know how to play, without comparing myself to anyone else, I'll be fine. "To be able to start back fresh, it kind of feels like the rookie year that I want to have so far, playing a lot better and obviously having a better attitude going into it. I'm looking forward to the rest of the season."

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If you're new to PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf and had Austin Cook and/or Matthew Wolff starting in the final round of the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, you may be wondering why their fantasy points took a hit on Monday. Until you personally experience what it's like to have a playoff victim in your starting lineup for a tournament finale, you may have glossed over my most recent message/reminder in this space for the Sanderson Farms Championship that explained why fantasy totals aren't final until Monday. The automation for PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf assumes bonus points for all playoff participants as if each won the tournament, but manual adjustments are required after its conclusion. RELATED: Power Rankings | Expert Picks | Sleeper Picks Cook, Wolff and eventual champion Martin Laird each was credited with 50 bonus points (one-tenth the FedExCup points earned by the winner) when they qualified for the playoff at TPC Summerlin. Then, when Monday's weekly fine-tuning was executed, the bonuses for Cook and Wolff were revised to 25 apiece (rounding up to the whole number of 10 percent of the 245 FedExCup each earned). PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf My roster for the THE CJ CUP @ SHADOW CREEK (in alphabetical order): Viktor Hovland Rory McIlroy Jon Rahm Xander Schauffele Justin Thomas Matthew Wolff You'll find my starters in Expert Picks. Others to consider for each category (in alphabetical order): Scoring: Daniel Berger; Patrick Cantlay; Tyrrell Hatton; Tom Hoge; Sungjae Im; Si Woo Kim; Ian Poulter; Cameron Smith Driving: Daniel Berger; Paul Casey; Corey Conners; Harris English; Tommy Fleetwood; Sergio Garcia; Sungjae Im; Collin Morikawa POWER RANKINGS WILD CARD Collin Morikawa ... Egad! He's opened the new season 0-for-2. It's always mildly amusing at how quickly any golfer can fall out of our good graces. The adage is that we care only about what they've done lately, but there's a more personal test as it concerns how much of a fan we are. He hasn't done a thing to generate any negative attention. If anything, he's logged months of equity before we would consider turning. All of that is a reminder not to overanalyze in the short-term and trust in the fact that his class already is permanent. DRAWS Hideki Matsuyama ... Just like how I advise ignoring negative results in majors because everything is pinning, there's credence in applying it to a shootout. It's the same angle that supports Jason Kokrak as a Sleeper. Matsuyama also missed the cut at the Shriners but at 5-under 68-69—137 with a pair of sub-70s. Not everyone can be Usain Bolt, but even he has had to hustle when wind was at his back. Matsuyama had seven top 25s in his previous nine starts, including a T17 at Winged Foot. Harris English ... Same reasoning (and scores at TPC Summerlin) as Matsuyama above. Sungjae Im ... Didn't so much extend form at TPC Summerlin as connect with why he's such a threat. En route to a T13, he signed for a sub-70 after every round and led the field in fairways hit, Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee and greens in regulation. This week, we can't ignore how much he is empowered by leading the South Korean contingent. Brendon Todd ... So easy to forget about this guy, but his promise to be among the leaders in fairways hit on a course that few know well elevates his value across the board. Kevin Kisner ... Reminds me of Xander Schauffele (or vice versa) because they rarely stumble in the deepest fields. Most guys get up in the morning and can't wait to grapple. These two get to work. They're exactly the kinds of stabilizers around whom you want to build a lineup in this arena. Ian Poulter ... Went T6-5th in his fortnight in the U.K., so the form is spot on. He's been a beast in the no-cut invitationals throughout his career, too. Alex Noren ... Pieced together a T17 on the strength of his primary weapon, the putter. The Swede has been dynamite in recent months and his slump-proof game makes him even more dangerous with the guarantee of four rounds. Abraham Ancer Paul Casey Brian Harman Mackenzie Hughes Si Woo Kim Adam Long Joaquin Niemann Ryan Palmer Cameron Smith Bubba Watson FADES Rickie Fowler ... The tinkering continues. Granted, all professional golfers are guilty of it, but it resonates in the absence of success over time. He went 67-74 en route to last week's trunk slam with a new putter. Jason Day ... Unlike others who arrived at TPC Summerlin and missed the cut, Day also MC'd, but he was scuffling, so it's more of a reflection of his trajectory than the dynamic of the shootout. Continue to abstain. Gary Woodland ... Similar to Brooks Koepka (below), Woodland also is playing with a torn labrum in his left hip. Reactions vary but Koepka opted to sit out two months whereas Woodland has maintained a steady schedule. How he navigates Shadow Creek introduces too much mystery to warrant an endorsement despite no cut, but even if he performs well (say, top half in the field of 78), it'll continue to be our concern until he speaks otherwise. Justin Rose ... The inconsistency is one thing, and even acceptable given our pursuits, but it's how he's been inconsistent that has our attention. While he comps best to Webb Simpson, the American is five years younger and in his prime. Rose just turned 40, which we can't rule out as having a short-range influence on his focus. (Loyal readers are familiar with my narrative on this.) If you've yet to experience "the hill," just wait. It's easier said than done and it deserves respect. So, the moment he reconnects with form, buy, because this extended period with singular spikes won't last forever. Matt Kuchar ... This is relative. Since play resumed, he's 7-for-10 but with only two top-30 finishes. And on tracks where his ball flight and accuracy should have mattered, he didn't capitalize. Adam Hadwin ... Just as he shouldn't be indicted by a final-round 74 at TPC Summerlin (to finish T34), it's also necessary not to inflate his third-round 62 as anything more than a reminder of his talent on any given day. The fact remains that he's gone eight straight starts without a top 30. Persnickety gamers expect more action from the 32-year-old. Marc Leishman ... He's been a fixture in this section for too long now. His missed cut at Winged Foot extended his drought without a top-35 finish in a full-field event to 10 starts, all post-hiatus. Byeong Hun An Cameron Champ Tyler Duncan Talor Gooch Jim Herman Jordan Spieth Nick Taylor Richy Werenski RETURNING TO COMPETITION Brooks Koepka ... Proclaimed that he's healthy again and ready for 72 holes. Cited a partially torn labrum in his left hip as a contributor to aggravating discomfort in his left knee, but he's opted for treatment over surgery. Given his firepower and the absence of a cut, he presents as potential gold in PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf. Consider reserving a spot on your bench. On an aside, the Houston Open and the Masters are his remaining planned stops this fall. NOTABLE WDs Dustin Johnson ... Tested positive for COVID-19. Tony Finau ... Second consecutive early withdrawal. He had to pull out of the Shriners after testing positive for COVID-19. POWER RANKINGS RECAP - SHRINERS HOSPITALS FOR CHILDREN OPEN Power Ranking Golfer Result 1 Bryson DeChambeau T8 2 Webb Simpson T13 3 Matthew Wolff T2 4 Patrick Cantlay T8 5 Collin Morikawa MC 6 Sergio Garcia T43 7 Tony Finau DNP 8 Harris English MC 9 Hideki Matsuyama MC 10 Cameron Smith T24 11 Tyler McCumber MC 12 Louis Oosthuizen T19 13 Denny McCarthy 57th 14 Paul Casey MC 15 Kevin Na T43 Wild Card Francesco Molinari MC SLEEPERS RECAP - SHRINERS HOSPITALS FOR CHILDREN OPEN Golfer Result Brian Harman T13 Luke List MC Matthew NeSmith T8 Sean O'Hair MC Aaron Wise MC BIRTHDAYS AMONG ACTIVE GOLFERS ON THE PGA TOUR October 13 ... none October 14 ... Tyrrell Hatton (29) October 15 ... Richard S. Johnson (44) October 16 ... Ryan Blaum (37) October 17 ... Ernie Els (51) October 18 ... none October 19 ... Louis Oosthuizen (38)

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