Two-time DP World Tour winner Dan Bradbury kicks off his exclusive new column with Golf News by reflecting on his fast start since joining the pro game in 2022 and outlining his ambitions for the season ahead
Winning so early in my career was both a blessing and a curse. When I turned pro in 2022, I won the Joburg Open in my third start on the DP World Tour.
I was playing on an invitation and had only recently started out on the Challenge Tour, so to suddenly find myself winning a top tier event and getting a DP World Tour card was beyond my wildest dreams.
In some ways, winning that early can give you a false sense of what professional golf is about. Some guys spend years grinding on the Challenge Tour before they get their break, honing their craft and getting used to the lifestyle.
But I felt like I was ready. Five years of playing college golf in the US gave me plenty of experience, and while I was technically a rookie, I didn’t feel like one.
LOOKING BACK
My first tour invite was at Hillside for the Cazoo Classic in 2022, and that was a reality check — I felt like a rabbit in the headlights. But my second start, in Madrid, was much better.
I finished 13th and walked away knowing I’d played solid golf but still left shots out there. That was a big confidence boost heading into the Joburg Open. I realised I wasn’t just there to make up the numbers – I could actually compete.
One of the biggest adjustments from playing amateur to professional golf is playing for money. Most pros will tell you they don’t think about it much — they’re just focused on the next shot. I’d say, for the most part, that’s true for me as well.
But there have been spells where I’ve worried too much about money. Winning early helped alleviate that pressure. It allowed me to step back and think, ‘I’m set for the year. I don’t need to stress about the money — I just need to play well.’
HUGE WIN IN PARIS
My second win came at the Open de France in Paris last October. Up until that point my season had been a bit a struggle, with a lot of missed cuts and a general lack of consistency.
I felt that my season turned around at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth in September. I had made some significant changes in the summer – including getting a new caddie – and while I felt like I had turned a corner, the results weren’t reflecting that yet.
Making the cut at Wentworth and then having a great final round was a huge confidence boost. I took that momentum into the next few weeks, and not long after I got the win in France. That moment meant a lot — not just as a validation of my form, but as a reassurance that I was making the right choices with my game.
I wouldn’t say I felt like the win was coming. I definitely felt like I was underperforming, I was playing much better than my scores suggested, and I felt I deserved more out of the rounds I was putting together.
But to say I could feel a win on the horizon? No, I wouldn’t go that far. That being said, I had sensed some good results were just around the corner.
It had been like that all year, really. I had a good result in Italy, even had a chance to win there, but I completely fell apart on the last three holes. Aside from that, my year hadn’t been great.
NEW MAN ON THE BAG
My new caddie, Asa Phillips, has been a great addition. We knew each other from the Clutch Pro Tour, and I liked the way he worked. The fact that he’s a good player himself is important to me.
He reads greens exceptionally well and holds me accountable — two things I was really looking for in a caddie.
My immediate goal for this season is to improve my ranking from last year — I finished 36th in the Race to Dubai in 2023, then 30th last year.
Getting a PGA Tour card is the obvious next step for me, and another win would certainly help. It’s difficult to improve in the Race to Dubai standings without winning.
My consistency is also something I want to work on. Last year I missed 13 or 14 cuts, but nine of those were by a single shot.
That stat alone tells me my game is better than my results suggest. At last week’s Ras Al Khaimah Championship, for example, I played solid golf but made a couple of mental mistakes at the wrong time and missed the cut by one shot.
It’s frustrating, but it’s all part of the learning experience. I’ve always believed in sticking to what got me here in the first place. If you’re playing well, don’t change anything. I didn’t follow my own advice last week, and looking back, I think that happened a few times last year as well.
TOOLS OF THE TRADE
Equipment-wise, I made a few changes over the off-season. I put the new Ping G440 driver and three-wood in the bag, which have been great additions.
I’m getting a bit of extra distance, with a slightly lower spin rate. I slightly altered the grind on my Ping S159 lob wedge, but aside from that, most of my setup remains the same.
I’m testing out whether I want another club that gives me the same distance as my Ping iCrossover 3-iron, but with a different flight—maybe a 7-wood, 5-wood, or hybrid – but I’m still working that one out.
I’ve also putt Titleist’s new Pro V1x into play, but it’s too early to say what kind of difference I’m seeing from it compared to the previous model.
PUTTING DECISION
One of the major changes I made last year in terms of my equipment was switching to a long putter. I’d been struggling with my putting — especially from inside 20 feet. I was statistically one of the worst putters on tour.
I sat down with Phil Kenyon and Mike Kanski after The Open, and they both encouraged me to try a broom-handle. Phil said, ‘If it helps you putt better, will you use it?’ I said, ‘Of course.’ He told me I’d know within 24 hours if I could make the switch, and he was right.
I got a Ping Oslo XL and took it straight to the practice green. It felt strange at first, but it was effective. Statistically, I gained about a shot per round after switching, which is a huge improvement at this level.
MY SUPPORTERS
In addition to being supported by Ping, and managed by Octagon Golf, I have a great group of sponsors who have helped me to get to where I am today, including MASHIE Golf, Eurocams, the LPW Group, and The Chambers Hotel in Leeds. I’m so grateful for their continued support.
I’m attached to Wakefield Golf Club in Yorkshire, where I have been a member since I was eight. They’ve very generously made me an honorary member there now, and it’s always nice to come back and catch up with the members and old friends.
I’ve been coached by Steve Robinson over at Sandburn Hall in York since I was about 13 or 14. He coached me when I played for Yorkshire Boys and I can always trust him to sort out any issues I might be having with my swing.
LEARNING PROCESS
One of the biggest adjustments to playing on the DP World Tour has been dealing with different conditions that we face week to week. For example, the greens at the Dubai Desert Classic were running at 12.5, while in Ras Al Khaimah they were closer to 10.5.
That doesn’t happen on the PGA Tour, where the greens are consistent week in, week out. Rough conditions also vary massively — from dense jungle-like rough one week to wispy, patchy rough the next.
Learning how to adjust to these variations is an important skill.Course-wise, I’ve had good results at places like Houghton in South Africa, where I won and then finished third last year.
It’s similar to Wakefield, my home club back in Yorkshire where I grew up — tight, short, with sloped greens. Generally,
I feel like I have the game to compete on any course. If you’re on tour, you should be able to adapt to any conditions.
FRIENDS ON TOUR
On tour, I tend to stick with the Yorkshire lads — Sam Bairstow, Dan Brown, Josh Berry, and Ben Schmidt. It’s nice having a group to practice with and go to dinner with.
When I was new to the tour, I got along well with guys like James Morrison and Jamie Donaldson, who were always happy to chat and offer little bits of advice, and I’m happy to do the same for the guys like Ben who are coming through.
British players tend to look out for each other, although it’s also important to remember that we are rivals!
MY SCHEDULE
Scheduling-wise, I’m planning to play a similar number of events this season as I did last year, around 27-28, but I’m going to take some time off in April — about six weeks – to work on my game at home.
When you only have two or three weeks off at a time, there’s little opportunity for serious practice. You’re either preparing for an event or recovering from one. I want time to really work on my game, the way I could in amateur golf during the winter.
Since turning pro, I’ve mostly been maintaining my game rather than making real improvements. This break will give me a chance to focus on that.
I’m really excited for the season ahead. South Africa has always been good to me, so I’m looking forward to playing the Joburg Open again next month, especially as my parents are coming down to watch.
After that, I’ll play in Singapore at the beginning of March before my break, then return in Turkey in May. The goal remains the same — keep improving, keep learning and, hopefully, keep winning!
Dan Bradbury Fact File
Age: 25
Lives: Wakefield, Yorkshire
Turned Pro: 2022
World Ranking: 169
Race to Dubai ranking: 30 (2024)
DP World Tour Starts: 63
Wins: 2 (‘22 JoBurg Open, ‘24 Open de France)Top 10s: 8
Cuts Made: 36
Prize Money: €1.95m
Dan’s Equipment Set up
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9°)
Fairway Wood: Ping G440 (14°)
Utility Iron: Ping iCrossover (3)
Irons: Ping Blueprint S (4-PW)
Wedges: Ping S159 (50°, 56°, 60°)
Putter: Ping PLD Custom Oslo XL
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Apparel: Ping
Shoes: Nike
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