PGA champ hits Masters having never lost a major

Keegan Bradley has a novel approach to his Masters debut, one seldom seen even at historic Augusta National Golf Club. "I've won every major I've ever played in," Bradley said with a grin. "I don't think it's that hard to be honest." The 25-year-old American, whose aunt is LPGA legend Pat Bradley, captured last year's PGA Championship at Atlanta Athletic Club, trailing by five shots with three holes to play but rallying to beat Jason Dufner in a playoff. Bradley became only the third man to win in his major debut after Ben Curtis at the 2003 British Open and Francis Ouimet at the 1913 US Open. But after touring the famed Augusta National layout, Bradley knows he will have an epic challenge to keep his unbeaten major status come next week and make it two-for-two in major titles, an unprecedented feat. "I know how hard it's going to be to win this week," Bradley said. "I am going to try as hard as I can to win it. Certainly experience is something I'm giving up at this tournament. "There is a lot of first-time ignorance. You just go out and play the course and that can help sometimes." Not since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979 has a first-time Masters player won the champion's green jacket. Bradley has spoken with and played alongside Phil Mickelson in practice rounds, learning all he can from a three-time Masters champion, including where to miss on what holes and which pins can be attacked. "He has helped me a lot," Bradley said. "It's one or two things per hole. Just being out here with Phil is inspiration to win." One of the first things he did was let himself be awestruck by the course so he could then get down to learning the layout. "I couldn't believe how green it was," Bradley said. "It was everything I thought it would be and a lot more. I've never been to a place that exceeded expectations so much. It has got a magical feel almost." Bradley most looks forward to his tee shots at the 12th and 13th holes, the deadly par-3 and par-5 holes with Rae's Creek winding through them that conclude famed Amen Corner. "Every shot on the back nine is memorable," Bradley said. "The back side fits my eye very well. Once you walk over that hill at 11, it rejuvenates you and gets you going." And his aunt Pat, whose 31 career LPGA titles included five major crowns in the 1980s, has been helpful as well about the pressures of a major and the mystique of a place like Augusta National. "Pat has been a big influence on me," Bradley said. "She has got advice for me every day." One thing she has not done is adopted her nephew's belly putter. Bradley became the first belly putter with a major title, but says he does not see it giving him an edge over conventional putters on any hole at Augusta National. "I don't think it will help me on any particular putt," he said. "It's just personally I feel more comfortable with it."