‘I’ll remember that for the rest of my life’: Despite seventh-place finish, Keegan Bradley felt like a hometown hero at the US Open

 A round that sent him to his hands and knees ended with his fists raised high.

Keegan Bradley fought his putter on Sunday at the US Open, ending his chase for the trophy. But after capping a seventh-place finish with a final-round 71, he saluted a crowd that had his back the whole way.

They hollered encouragement wherever he went at The Country Club, often simply calling out his various New England associations: “802!” for his hometown of Woodstock, Vt., “Hillers!” for his schoolboy days at Hopkinton High, “Go Sox!” for his hardcore support of Boston teams, which he wore all over his spikes.

They hollered encouragement wherever he went at The Country Club, often simply calling out his various New England associations: “802!” for his hometown of Woodstock, Vt., “Hillers!” for his schoolboy days at Hopkinton High, “Go Sox!” for his hardcore support of Boston teams, which he wore all over his spikes.

The gallery saved the most meaningful tributes for last. Hundreds around the 18th hole showered him with more “Kee-gan! Kee-gan!” thunder as he walked to the green. This was the week Bradley felt like a Boston sports hero.

“Man, I’ll remember that for the rest of my life,” he said. “It was really special. I’m happy that my family was here to see that, and it was just amazing.”

Bradley, flanked by his 4-year-old son, Logan, during a postround interview, had family, friends and high school teammates in attendance. Bradley and his family live in Jupiter, Fla., but plan to spend the summer up here — Bradley, mostly, being a dad.

“There’s a part of me that’s still happy that it’s over,” Bradley said. “I’m tapped out. What a week. I had the best time. I’m so thankful for the fans of New England and Boston. I’m proud of the way I played. I wish I had putted a little better today, but that’s the way it goes.”

Starting in a tie for fourth (2 under), Bradley fell off the leaderboard after bogeying his first three holes. The undulating greens bedeviled him, his putter failing him early.

Bradley is more deliberate than most in lining up his short strokes. He straddles his line. He studies his pointer finger to read the break. He is not a quick worker. At times, it may have felt like he was prolonging the agony.

He was in the sand on No. 1, but gave himself a chance for birdies on 2 and 3. He rolled each of his putts over the edge of the cup.