ATLANTA, August 15, 2011 (AFP) - From Charl Schwartzel's four-birdie finish to win the Masters, Rory McIlroy and Darren Clarke's emotional triumphs and Keegan Bradley's PGA shocker, 2011 was a breakthrough year in golf majors.
Bradley's victory at Atlanta Athletic Club over fellow American Jason Dufner in a three-hole aggregate playoff for the PGA Championship on Sunday completed the first majors sweep in a season since 2003 by first-time winners.
"I think majors especially, but the fields, everybody out here is so good now -- from the last guy in to the first guy can win," Bradley said.
South African Schwartzel was a stunner who emerged from a 10-man back nine battle on Sunday at Augusta National, while McIlroy was seen as a major threat well before his US Open victory and fellow Northern Irishman Clarke was a long-admired major veteran before his British Open triumph last month.
Bradley's victory, rallying after a triple bogey at the par-3 15th when Dufner collapsed down the stretch as well, ran the streak of major victories by first-time winners to a record seven and 10 of the past 11 events overall.
That is a streak Bradley says might have a long way yet to run now that the days of domination by 14-time major winner Tiger Woods are over.
"The top players are not dominating like they were, which I think is great for the tour. It gives an opportunity for a player like me to win this thing."
Since 2008, no prior major winner has won a major outside of the Masters, which offers extra benefit to experienced players being staged annually at famed Augusta National.
"There are new names coming out that people should be excited about," Dufner said. "It's not all about everybody you see on TV. There's a lot of guys that can really play, and they are going to play really good golf for a long time."
Former World No. 1 Woods, who missed the cut at a major for only the third time in his career at the PGA Championship, has not won a major title since the 2008 US Open, a career-longest drought of 14 majors.
Woods, who struggled in a two-week comeback after a layoff following left leg injuries suffered at the Masters in April, was 33rd in Monday's world rankings, four spots below Bradley, who was 108th last week.
But Bradley is not writing off Woods, still chasing the career record 18 major titles won by Jack Nicklaus, as a major threat.
"I don't think it's over. I think Tiger has a lot of great tournaments in him," Bradley told CNN on Monday. "He will be back. He still has a lot of great tournaments in him. It will always be the Tiger era as long as he is playing.
"But it is great to have some good young Americans coming up to play golf."
Bradley became the 13th different player to win in the past 13 majors and snapped a record drought of six majors without a US winner.
"I've always wanted to win majors," Bradley said. "It's cool to be thought of as one of those guys now."
Bradley is the grandson of an Irish immigrant, son of a club professional at a Wyoming resort and the nephew of LPGA legend Pat Bradley. He fell asleep about six hours after winning, the Wanamaker Trophy safely in his room.
Bradley, 25, served a warning to multiple major champions like Woods and Phil Mickelson that the new generation is not just coming from the ranks of developmental tours, it's here to stay.
"It's as deep as it has ever been and I think it's only getting deeper," Bradley said. "My class of the Nationwide and the rookies and the younger players are very, very good."
Bradley served notice in another way as well, becoming the first major winner using a belly putter.
"I'm also very proud to be the first belly putter to win a major," Bradley said.
"I remember people telling me when I first switched, 'Nobody has ever won a major with it.' I remember looking at them and going, 'I'm going to be the first one to win a major,' just joking pretty much.
"It's a surreal thing that it's true."