Impact Of A Scholarship: George Bradford

Just months before graduation in 1997, Bradford decided to turn pro and chase his dreams to play on the PGA Tour (after Tiger Woods won the 1997 Masters). “I had the talent; and I always knew I had the work ethic. From a timing standpoint, there was nothing stopping me from that opportunity. So I talked to my parents, they were like, ‘Look, if you don’t do it, now, you’re never going to do it.’ So I moved down to Orlando, Florida to Orlando, and just figured it out. “

It was in April of 1999 that Bradford made his first check as a professional golfer … for $74. He credits his early success to his mentor Rodney Green and golf instructor Mike Bender. 

But, it wouldn’t be until a year later that he would get his first professional victory on the Moonlight Tour outside Orlando, Florida. “That win was a pivotal time in my career because I was considering stopping playing and going into the club route to become a club professional or do something different,” said Bradford. “I was like, I can’t stop now, and that kind of started the momentum to play at the next level. So I got my PGA Tour Canada card.”

It became a full circle moment in June 2004, when Bradford Monday-qualified for the Booz Allen Classic for a chance to play in front of a hometown crowd in Maryland at TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm in his first PGA Tour event. “I never looked back,” said Bradford. “I just kept getting better and better and better every year.”

From 2007-10, Bradford was the second highest-ranked African-American golfer in the world at 463rd, behind only Tiger Woods. In 2008, he had his best year on PGA Tour Canada with three runner-ups, five top-ten finishes, and fourth on the Order of Merit standings.

“It looks a lot better than it did when I was playing, and that’s great,” said Bradford, talking about where the game of golf is today compared to when he played on tour. The Advocates Professional Golf Association, better known as the APGA Tour, was established in 2010; with the economy tanking in 2009, Bradford’s chances of gaining any sponsorship opportunity had quickly diminished. As a result, Qualifying School was out of the option. At the time, only four African American players were ranked in the world… Tim O’Neal (who currently plays on the Champions Tour), Andy Walker ( the head coach of VCU’s men’s golf team), Tiger Woods, and George himself.