It’s all on the line in Bermuda! Adam Schenk and Braden Thornberry share the lead heading into the final round of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship. Both players are outside the top 100 in the FedEx Cup standings and desperately need a strong finish to secure their PGA Tour cards for next season. Schenk, winless in 242 starts, played a bogey-free round in challenging windy conditions to put himself in contention. Thornberry, a PGA Tour rookie and former NCAA champion, is also fighting for his card and knows only a win will guarantee his status. Join us as we break down their rounds, analyze the pressure-packed situation, and preview the dramatic final round where careers hang in the balance. Who will emerge victorious and secure their place on the PGA Tour?
The Bermuda Championship is heating up with a thrilling battle for the PGA Tour card. Person golfing. Adam Shank and Braden Thornberry are tied for the lead heading into the final round. But the real story is the intense competition for a coveted spot on the PGA Tour. With the season ending RSM Classic just around the corner, the pressure is on for those outside the top 100 in the FedEx Cup rankings. Shank, who has never won in 242 PGA Tour starts, is making a surprising surge. After some recent adjustments to his game, he played a bogey-free round of 67 in challenging windy conditions. This puts him in a tie for the lead with Thornberry, who shot a 69. But here’s where it gets interesting. Shank, ranked 134th, and Thornberry, ranked 178th, are not the only ones vying for a spot. 10 players from the top 11 on the leaderboard are in a similar situation. All scrambling to secure their PGA Tour future. And with the new rule awarding cards to the top 100 instead of 125, the stakes are higher than ever. Thornberry, a former NCAA champion, knows he needs a win to guarantee his card. Shank, on the other hand, is motivated by the prospect of avoiding Q school. But will their dreams come true? The chasing pack includes Adam Hadwin who held the 36 hole lead but slipped to a 71 and is now tied for third. Max McGrevy, Chandler Phillips, and Japan’s Tumi Kaya are also in the mix, just one shot behind. Rakuya Hosino is not far off either, sitting two shots back. Vince why the only player within three shots of the lead who seems relatively secure in his FedEx Cup ranking 86 managed a 68. But for the others, the wind adds another layer of difficulty. Thornberry’s strategy. Make the most of the wind when it’s helpful and hang on when it’s not. You have to accept some shots won’t end up near the hole, he said, referring to the tricky conditions. Shank, who made it to the Tour Championship in 2023 without a win, is no stranger to fighting his way into big events. But with the season coming to a close, he’s aware of the urgency. I wish I’d made these changes earlier, he reflected. As the final round approaches, the question remains, who will secure their PGA Tour card. Will it be the consistent Shank, the determined Thornberry, or one of the other 10 hopefuls? and what impact will the wind have on their fate? Stay tuned for an exciting conclusion and feel free to share your predictions. Is it fair that the PGA Tour card allocation has changed? Are you rooting for a particular player? Let us know in the comments below.
