Quick 18: Bells were ringing in New England for Keegan

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Bradley was sure when he turned on his cell there would be messages from his aunt, Hall of Famer Pat Bradley.

1. A ringing tradition continues. Rookie Keegan Bradley's grandmother Kathleen used to ring a cowbell on her porch every time his aunt Pat won an event. That bell is now in Pat's locker in the Hall of Fame, but that didn't stop the tradition. Everyone in the family found a bell -- cow, chuck wagon, dinner or otherwise -- and was ringing it in New England Sunday night after Keegan's playoff win at the HP Byron Nelson Championship. Keegan thought about the bell walking up the 18th during the playoff and got emotional. Imagine what he did when he heard about the redux.

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2. Interesting piece of mental lint? Keegan was born in 1986, the same year Q-18 and a few more writers were covering Aunt Pat's three-major season.

3. Just five players under par in Dallas? Oh hail. And wind. And tornadoes in the Metroplex. Players started the week able to repair pock-marks on the greens from major hail. Then they fought 35 mph winds. And, by the way, the winning score -- 3-under -- was the highest winning score relative to par this year on TOUR.

4. Doesn't get much better than Lee Westwood and twin-tour star Luke Donald down the stretch at Wentworth, does it? No, it wasn't the Tiger-Phil match up that everyone was dying to see for mumblesome years. In so many ways, it was better. Amazing, actually. From Star Wars cheers --- Luuuukkke and Feel the Force -- to lip-outs to comebacks to a watery playoff finish, it was the two best in the world in a slugfest. And the little guy won.

5. Hard to argue that Donald isn't the best in the world right now. His resiliency and consistency alone -- two big wins (the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play and the BMW PGA Championship) and 10 top-10s worldwide against one missed cut this season alone -- is enough to put him there. And he's not slowing down. He'll make the London-Columbus run -- in micro parsecs -- to play in the Memorial this week. A major? It'll come.

6. Tom Watson. Any questions? The guy almost won the British Open two years ago and now another amazing finish, another Champions major. And he flew past Hale Irwin -- the man who set the standard for fiftysomethings -- then beat David Eger in a playoff for the Senior PGA Championship. Of course, at 61, he's the oldest player to win a Champions event and the second oldest to win any major, period. Jock Hutchinson won the 1947 Senior PGA at the age of 62.

7. And don't look now, but another Jack record is so within reach. Q-18 could definitely see Watson tying Jack's record of eight Champions majors. Watson has six, Irwin, who is just a few days shy of his 66th birthday, has seven.

8. Ernie Els' latest spiff-up at Wentworth produced that amazing matchup, but also elicited some, um, not so subtle complaints from players like Ian Poulter, who finished 18th and doubled the 18th hole. "I don't like this golf course. Period. End of story,'' he said. "I don't have a problem with tough courses but I am absolutely fuming. I've hit what I thought was a perfect shot and it finishes in the [water] hazard. Marvelous." Els took the higher road, saying "We'll take stock. But instead of [players] getting on a stage and talking to the world, come up with constructive criticism and we will listen. I'm not going to take this craziness. It's uncalled for.''

9 . If you haven't seen the viral video of Jeff Morgan's ace at the 15th hole Chambers Bay, take a look. The first 45 seconds will make you smile. Just before Morgan aced the hole, he asked when the last time one of his playing partners had seen a hole-in-one. Morgan was referring to his ace at a Washington course that won him a car. Watch the video on YouTube.

10. As if you needed another reason to tune into Feherty when it debuts on June 20 on The Golf Channel, we offer a two-fer. First, Feherty was in Kansas City Sunday and Monday "interviewing the great man who helped save my life, T Watson." Second, this tweet -- from @Fehertwit -- from his visit to Watson's ranch outside Kansas City. Oh god, Watson is putting me on a cutting horse. Oh, to be a fly on the fence . . . Take it from Q-18, they're amazing animals and riding one is serious e-ticket fun.

11. Next up for Jordan Spieth? He was disappointed in his closing 77 at the Nelson, but he tees it up next Monday for a shot at the U.S. Open. After that, he'll get ready for college life -- and golf -- at Texas. His caddie at the Nelson, Kramer Hickok will be his roommate and teammate next fall.

12. The other teenager everyone's talking about? Italy's Matteo Manassero. He's got two European Tour wins and was contending last week at Wentworth until a closing 75. But in two weeks he'll morph from millionaire young gun to a kid taking his high school exams. All of which prompted Westwood to quip "He's irritatingly young. I've been on tour longer than he's been on earth."

13. Damon Green usually carries the clubs. This week, he'll be hitting them. Green, who caddies for Zach Johnson, is making his Champions Tour debut this week at the Principal Charity Classic. The 50-year-old Green, who has won 71 mini-tour events, had three top-10s in Nationwide events and missed his PGA TOUR card twice by a shot each time, is playing on a sponsor's exemption and the only pressure for him is finding the fairway. "I can hit it pretty far," he told the Des Moines Register. "Not necessarily straight. They may need hard hats on the first tee." Green doesn't get much time to practice but, Johnson says, he's a good player. "He's a very freaky talent," Johnson said. "Very naturally gifted with a golf club in his hands. He's like, 'See the ball, hit the ball.' And he's become a great putter. He's a competitor. That's why he's good on my bag. He loves to get out there and grind."

14. Snaps to Isabelle Beisiegel who is the first woman to earn status on a men's golf tour. Beisiegel, from Montreal, shot a 4-under 68 to claim the final non-exempt card at the Canadian Tour Qualifying School. "I still can't believe it. It's a little overwhelming,'' the 32-year-old Beisiegel said. It may become even more overwhelming considering she has just one top 10 in parts of six LPGA seasons.

15. Two pricey -- well, really priceless -- treasures picked up at the Ole' Seve Pro-Am auction? Poulter spent £55,000 on Seve Ballesteros' gold putter and Paul Casey paid £65,000 for Ballesteros' Rolex watch. The auction pulled in £618,000 for the Ballesteros Foundation and Cancer Research UK .

16. From the caddie-go-round: Turnabout is... well, it's not the first time we've heard about a caddie firing his player, but it is the highest profile moment on that side of a split. Yes, Colin Montgomerie was sacked by Jason Hempleman, who is now on Francesco Molinari's bag. Said Monty, "I have usually done the sacking in my life, now it's the other way around -- sad but true. Jason is a lovely guy and did a super job for me and I wish him well with Francesco. Now I don't know what to do." Q-18 is sure he'll figure something out.

17. All eyes will be on Oklahoma State this week as the Cowboys go for another men's NCAA title -- this one in their own backyard, at Karsten Creek. It's never easy, but Q-18 recalls another home-game that was pressure packed back in 1984. The Houston Cougars won No. 15 at Bear Creek, but it wasn't easy. Steve Elkington had to make a 3-footer on the last hole to beat defending champ OSU -- and senior Scott Verplank -- by one.

18. And finally -- but really first and foremost -- on Memorial Day we pause to remember those who serve and keep us safe. Q-18 couldn't come up with a better honor than two @Fehertwit tweets from his flight to Kansas City -- On a flight to KC, in coach. Upgraded one soldier and gave my seat to another, and several other civilians followed suit. Hoo-ah, our honor. And this.. One of these men has two baby girls he's never seen. He will know them for two weeks, and then he'll be back in the sand. I love these men.

Melanie Hauser is a columnist for PGATOUR.COM and can be reached at melaniehauser@gmail.com. Her views do not necessarily represent the views of the PGA TOUR. Follow her on Twitter @melaniehauser.