Masters 2012: Rising Star Keegan Bradley Will Threaten Down the Stretch

It was no surprise that rising star Keegan Bradley shot a one-under 71 in the first round of the Masters on Thursday. The truth is, he was a front-runner coming into this tournament.

Bradley, 25, won the PGA Championship in his first career attempt last year en route to being named the 2011 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year. This year, he hasn't placed worse than 22nd, and had three top-10 finishes headed into the Masters. He finished second in a playoff at the Northern Trust Open and shot a 12-under 276 at the Houston Open, good for fourth place.

Bradley hasn't just challenged this season, he's challenged consistently, and he may be playing even better golf than last year. He had four birdies on Thursday.

While Bradley obviously isn't on the same level as Rory McIlroy, he may become the Rory McIlroy of 2012, in that he's a young golfer who could surprise everyone. That includes at the Masters, where he's in the thick of it after one round at Augusta.

Bradley joked about being perfect in majors before he hit the links on Thursday. He is, after all, 1-for-1.

Bradley said, via the AP, "So I don't think it's that hard, to be honest."

Of course, Augusta National is one of the most challenging courses on tour. Golfers try for years to get a grip on it, and some never do.

But Bradley may still be smiling by the end of it. He's rising at a rapid rate and has the talent to shock the world like he did last year. The big guns were McIlroy, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson headed into the tournament, but Bradley cannot be forgotten. He has the potential to sneak up on the field down the stretch.

When all is said and done, it may be Bradley who dons the green jacket. He's a huge sleeper this year at Augusta.

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