Witness the thrilling journey of Adam Schenk as he conquers the Butterfield Bermuda Championship in 2025. With winds reaching up to 45 mph, Schenk showcased incredible creativity and shot-making skills to secure his maiden PGA Tour victory.
The final round was a battle of attrition, and Schenk’s resilience stood out. He hit low-flying layups, manipulated wedge shots, and executed saucy chip shots to navigate the challenging conditions. Despite the pressure, he held his nerve, making crucial par saves on the 16th and 18th holes to seal the win.
This video captures the drama, strategy, and emotions of Schenk’s historic victory, offering a comprehensive look at his breakthrough performance on the PGA Tour.
In the face of howling winds that could test even the bravest souls, Adam Shank turned a battle against the elements into his triumphant first victory on the PGA Tour at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship. Imagine the drama. A golfer defying nature’s fury to etch his name into golfing history. But here’s where it gets really intriguing, as his unconventional tactics might just redefine how we think about playing in extreme conditions. Adam Shank unleashed a torrent of imaginative golf shots in the latter stages of the tournament, showcasing skills that kept him in contention when many faltered. On the par 517th hole, for instance, he opted for a low trajectory layup shot that barely lifted off the ground, a deliberate choice to combat the relentless breeze. This technique, often called a low punch in golf lingo, helps players keep the ball under control by reducing its exposure to the wind. He also expertly adjusted his wedges to float them against the gusts, using the wind as an ally rather than an enemy, and even executed cheeky chip shots uphill when he found himself in tricky positions off the fairway. Picture twisting your body and wrists to steer the golf ball. It’s like being a human curveball pitcher, manipulating spin and direction to navigate the Port Royal Golf Course in Bermuda amid winds clocking 30 m hour with blasts up to 45 m hour on Sunday. With his maiden PGA Tour win hanging in the balance, Shank avoided the catastrophic errors that plagued others, staying composed while the field crumbled under pressure. After 243 attempts on the PGA Tour, Shank finally claimed victory, securing the 2025 Butterfield Bermuda Championship through a masterful display of shot shaping and innovation that withtood wins that battered nearly all 70 competitors in the final round. Starting the day tied for the lead, he delivered crucial par saves on the par 316th and par 418th holes, edging out Chandler Phillips by a single stroke. A near miss on a short birdie putt at the 17th could have added breathing room, but instead he battled to secure the par that sealed his win. His scorecard for the day featured a solid 16 pars along with just one bogey and one birdie, a testament to steady, if somewhat uneventful golf in conditions that were far from ordinary. Throughout the windy afternoon on this isolated Atlantic island, Shank methodically built his lead on the back nine, fending off challenges that the harsh weather rendered nearly impossible for his rivals. In what felt like a grueling war of endurance, Shank emerged victorious. Reflecting on his journey, he shared, “I’ve been playing better golf over the last 4 months, and I’ve always held on to that belief. The hard work paid off and I have so many people to thank though I wish my family could have been here for my win abroad with my wife unable to attend. The day scorecard dotted with numerous bogeies from others contrasted sharply with Shanks calm performance a grinded out approach that kept him ahead without flashy heroics. This victory caps off a season where he’s had past heartbreaks like losing in a playoff to Ameliano Gillo at the 2023 Charles Schwab challenge. And while he’s notched five top 25 finishes this year, he’s also missed 15 cuts in 26 starts, leaving him ranked 134th in the FedEx Cup fall standings before this event. I knew deep down I could win. It was all about executing each shot and managing every situation, Shank explained. It felt like the longest day of my life, but I can’t believe it’s finally over. Even in the closing holes, his nerves were evident. That missed birdie opportunity on the 17th could have been demoralizing. Yet, he powered through with a strong T-shot down the 18th fairway. His approach shot overshot the green, possibly due to a mix of adrenaline, nerves, and wind misjudgment, but he chipped back brilliantly, lagging the ball to about 4 ft. The fist-p pumping celebration followed as his par putt dropped, clenching his first PGA Tour title. I’ve hoped for this moment in my life without knowing if it would come, he admitted. The journey’s been amazing and surreal, and now it’s here. Delving deeper into his emotions, Shank added, “There’s relief now that it’s done, and I’ve finally achieved it after coming so close so often. You wonder if you’ll get another chance, especially since losing in a big playoff might have sent me to Q school. That final putt was huge. It’s life-changing, securing me two more years on the tour. With this win, Shank pocketed $1,80,000 from the event $6 million total purse, propelling him to 67th in the FedEx Cup standings and safely passed the top 100 cutoff before next week’s season ender, the RSM Classic in Georgia. Shank joins a notable group as the 16th different firsttime winner on the PGA Tour this year and the third in the fall series. For context, the PGA Tours fall series kicks off after the FedEx Cup playoffs, offering players a chance to reset and compete for spots in the following season. A vital opportunity for those rebuilding their careers, much like Shank did here. Here are the other firsttime PGA Tour winners in 2025. Thomas Dry at the WM Phoenix Open. Brian Campbell at the Mexico Open at Vidanta. Joe Heismith at the Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches. Carl Phillips at the Puerto Rico Open. Min Wu Lee at the Texas Children’s Hospital Open. Andrew Novak and Ben Griffin at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Ryan Fox at the One Flight Myrtle Beach Classic. Aldridge Potier at the Rocket Classic. William Mau at the ISCO Championship. Ryan Gerard at the Barracuda Championship. Cameron Young at the Windham Championship. Tommy Fleetwood at the Tour Championship. Steven Fisk at the Sanderson Farms Championship. Michael Brennan at the Bank of Utah Championship. And now, Adam Shank at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship. And this is the part most people miss or perhaps debate in an era where golf can sometimes feel like a game of luck amid unpredictable weather. Does Shanks winddefying creativity highlight pure skill? or is it a lucky break that elevated him? Some might argue that perseverance and adaptability are golf’s true superpowers, while others wonder if the tour’s emphasis on firsttime winners dilutes the prestige of longtime stars. What do you think? Is this a feel-good story of grit, or does it spark questions about opportunity in professional sports? Share your opinions in the comments. Do you agree that timing and conditions play a bigger role than talent? Or is Shank’s journey a blueprint for aspiring golfers? We’d love to hear your take.
