CROMWELL, Conn. — Sometimes, you can want something too badly.
Keegan Bradley wanted to win the Travelers Championship too much in the 12 times he tried before this week.
He’s a native New Englander, having grown up in Vermont, and spent his youth coming to the tournament as a fan dreaming of moments like the one he lived out on Sunday at TPC River Highlands.
It just wasn’t as easy as it appeared it was going to be as Bradley was boat-racing the field for most of the day.
But, after building a six-shot lead on the back nine, Bradley weebled and wobbled down the stretch, but he never fell down.
In the end, the 37-year-old nephew of LPGA Tour legend Pat Bradley who played his college golf at St. John’s, hung on and realized the dream he’s had since chasing his favorite player, David Duval, around at this tournament as a teenager.
Bradley’s sixth career PGA Tour victory will go down as his most cherished.
He won the 2011 PGA Championship in his first career start in a major, but never realized the significance of that because it came so quickly.
This is the one Bradley has been waiting for his whole life and, after some stressful moments, he seized it, finishing 23-under par — three shots clear of runners-up Zac Blair and Brian Harman and four better than world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, Patrick Cantlay and Chez Reavie.
“Today was a day I’ll remember for the rest of my life,’’ Bradley said. “I still can’t believe it. It seems like a dream. It was a really stressful day. I’m so glad it’s over. I don’t think I’ve ever had a week where I’ve put it all together like that. That’s the best golf I’ve ever played. This has been a dream of mine since I was a little kid. It’s very rare that you get to live out your dreams.’’
Bradley, who went to sleep with a one-shot lead over Reavie, revealed that on Saturday night he had a bad dream or two.
“I had two dreams that I woke up to last night to hitting shots out of bounds,’’ he said. “Like nightmares.’’
Bradley didn’t hit a bad shot until his tee shot on the par-5 13th hole, which he blocked into the lake to the right of the fairway.
That led to a bogey, which led to another bogey on 14 after drawing a bad lie and then a par that felt like a bogey on the drivable short par-4 15th.
Another bogey followed on 16 and suddenly Bradley had gone the first 66 holes of the tournament with only one dropped shot and now had dropped three in four holes, paring the six-shot lead to a nervy three shots with Nos. 17 and 18 to play.
Scott Vail, Bradley’s caddie, told The Post he didn’t say anything to his player until the 17th tee, where he told him, “There’s been nobody out here better than you this week. Let’s just get it done these next two holes.’’
“And he figured out a way, and hit a great tee ball on 17, which was the only hole you could make a [big] number on really,’’ Vail said, referring to the lake to the right side of the fairway.
“Man, that was a stressful one,’’ Bradley said of the tee shot on 17. “That was either going to win or lose the golf tournament. What a great shot, one of the best I’ve ever hit in my life.’’
The walk up the 18th with the tournament in hand and the fans chanting his name was magical for Bradley, who’s a rabid fan of every Boston sports team.
“I dreamt my whole life of playing in Fenway Park, Gillette Stadium, and it felt pretty close to what that would feel like,’’ he said.
He entered the day 0-for-4 closing out 54-hole leads in his career.
Four years ago, Bradley was paired in the final group with Reavie, the eventual winner who took a six-shot lead into the final round and nearly lost it as Bradley made a run.
But a double bogey on the 17th hole derailed Bradley’s chances of overtaking Reavie.
“I’m sure he’s wanted this more than I would even know,’’ Vail said. “I don’t know how he deals with it. That’s a lot of pressure over the years where he’s wanted this tournament really bad and probably done himself a disservice by wanting it so bad.’’
Vail believes a key to Bradley winning on Sunday was having his family, wife Jillian, and two sons, Logan and Cooper, with him “so every night he was occupied, with is mind not able to race too far ahead.’’
Rory McIlroy, who made an early run from behind with birdies on five of his first eight holes Sunday, called Bradley’s performance “amazing — especially when it’s sort of like his home tournament.’’
“I know what that pressure feels like when I go back to Ireland and play the Irish Open,’’ McIlroy said. “So, for him to be doing what he’s doing is really impressive.’’
Within minutes after his win, Bradley revealed he got text messages from Michael Jordan and, among others, Aaron Rodgers.
“That meant a lot,’’ Bradley said, “even though he plays for the Jets now.’’
Then, turning serious, he said, “When you get a text from an athlete it hits different because they know what goes into doing something like this and it means a lot.’’
