Playing In His Brother's Memory

Michael Johnson competing in his first U.S. Junior Amateur, where  his late brother, Bradley, was a finalist four years ago

By Ken Klavon, USGA

Bedminster, N.J. – The day had been like so many others until the phone call. Normalcy for one family quickly turned to abnormality.

The late Bradley Johnson used Jerry Sturm, both above,on his bag in the 2005 U.S. Junior Amateur. (Sam Greenwood/USGA)

On March 25, 2006, Michael Johnson – just shy of his 13th birthday – sat idly by as the television, immune to tragedy, carried on while he was told that older brother, Bradley, didn’t survive a car accident. Suddenly Michael became an only child to Hugh and Shari Johnson. Bradley was only 17.

“I just couldn’t believe it. I didn’t want to believe it,” said Michael, now 16 and competing in his first U.S. Junior Amateur. “It was devastating.”

Bradley, an honor student who loved the Auburn Tigers and dreamed of playing for the Southeastern Conference school, had been a decorated junior player. An American Junior Golf Association All-American, he lost 5 and 3 to Kevin Tway in the 2005 Junior Amateur final. A few months later, he sat fashionably dressed at the U.S. Amateur players’ dinner listening intently to Arnold Palmer address the contestants. Bradley, polite out of respect and for the way he was raised, addressed each person as a sir or ma’am peppered in his southern dialect.

Michael is a facsimile of Bradley. He addresses people the same way, carries the same gait and offers the same impish grin when prodded, although he comes across more introverted.

“Same demeanor. Same swing. Except he’s a little quieter,” said caddie Jerry Sturm, 47, who caddied for Bradley in his two Junior Amateur appearances.

Not as compact as Bradley, Michael is already taller than his 5-foot-7 brother. Michael went about his business with a workman-like approach Sunday at Trump National Golf Club. When he couldn’t reach the green from the right fairway rough, he shook his head. He dropped another ball, lowered his hat like a bull ready to charge and watched as the elevated green repelled the second offering. This one rolled into an abutting pond.

Michael swung his club in frustration. He simply wants to do well, and although he didn’t say, he’d like to step from behind his brother’s shadow and play well for himself. On Monday on the New Course, he carded 4-over 76 and will need a stellar second round to qualify for match play.

When Michael qualified at Grand Bear Golf Club in Saucier, Miss., on June 30, he did so with mettle, earning medalist honors.

“I was excited and just happy to be here,” said the soft-spoken Michael. He asked if he could have Sturm on his bag. Sturm accepted without hesitation. Never mind that he lived in Carefree, Ariz. He told Hugh, 52, he’d do it for him.

Sturm said it’s surreal to be back carrying for a Johnson. He remembered the day well when he got the call. Shari, 49, had spoken to Sturm about rejoining Bradley at the 2006 U.S. Junior Amateur at Rancho Santa Fe (Calif.) Country Club. He’d caddie for him there. Plans were set. Less than 24 hours, Sturm received another call.

“It went from ‘can’t wait to see you’ to my heart dropping,” said Sturm.

According to Shelby County Deputy Coroner Kyle McDonnell, Bradley was driving his SUV that collided with a tractor trailer. At the time, he was a standout junior golfer at Spain Park High School in Birmingham. Officials moved quickly to establish the Bradley Johnson Memorial Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to providing financial resources for junior golfers. Spain Park High established the Bradley Johnson Memorial Tournament.

Wherever he goes, Michael is inundated by his brother’s memory. They were close, he said. “I never saw one player shoot as many 67s as he did,” said Michael when asked about a special memory he had of Bradley. Instead of choosing a personal achievement, Michael listed his most memorable golf experience as watching his brother play his final matches at the 2005 Junior Amateur at Longmeadow (Mass.) Country Club.  

Ever since Michael’s been 12, he has garnered golf tips from Sturm and shared the same instructor as Bradley.

Now he’s here, four years removed from Bradley’s final appearance, trying to cut his own path. He’s doing it alone, without big brother looking over his shoulder or there to offer advice. Michael indicated that the family is doing better. But the scars that wound a soul never fully heal.

Asked to compare the two golf games, Sturm said Bradley was longer off the tee but that Michael’s short game – particularly his irons – are “really good.” Even though Michael’s body language revealed the opposite, Sturm predicted he’d win this week.

“Why not?” said Sturm. “It can happen to anyone. Why not him? I would love to miss another flight to hang around.”

This year Michael was selected Sophomore Athlete of the Year at Spain Park High after excelling at basketball and golf, the same sports Bradley played. Whether he subconsciously chose to follow in Bradley’s footsteps, he wouldn’t say.

In a roundabout way, Bradley is with him this week. Michael opted to use his brother’s 1957 half-dollar as a marker. It’s the same one Bradley utilized in both Junior Amateurs he played. If he had his way, Michael is hoping the half-dollar finds its way back to another final. In many respects, such a scenario would lift a heavy heart.

“He was a good person,” said Michael of his brother. “He didn’t have very many faults.”

Ken Klavon is the USGA’s editor of digital media. E-mail him with questions or comments at kklavon@usga.org.