Witness the incredible journey of Adam Schenk as he achieves his first PGA TOUR victory at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship. From struggling with a coffee-stained sweater to mastering the windy conditions, Schenk’s story is an inspiring tale of perseverance and belief.
In his 243rd start, Schenk finally claimed the title, showcasing his resilience and unique putting strategy. This win not only secured his TOUR exemption but also marked a turning point in his career. Learn about his emotional reaction, the challenges he faced during the season, and how he celebrated this career-defining moment.
Discover why this win was more than just a trophy for Schenk and how it impacted his future on the PGA TOUR.
Imagine this. A professional golfer arrives at a tropical paradise, expecting sunshine and warm breezes, but instead he’s battling fierce winds and chilly temperatures, all while wearing the same slightly stained sweater for most of the week. This is the story of Adam Shank, who defied the odds and clinched his first PGA Tour victory at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship, written by Adam Stanley. Shanks journey to this wind is a testament to perseverance. He arrived in Bermuda with just one sweater, a seemingly innocent wardrobe choice for a tropical destination. However, the weather had other plans, forcing him to rely on that same sweater to combat the elements. I’m a little embarrassed because these stains happened like on Friday, Shank confessed, revealing that he’d worn the sweater for the majority of the tournament. But as they say, if it works, it works. That sweater, now bearing the scent of victory, became a symbol of his triumph. The big moment in his 243rd PGA Tour start, Shank finally broke through. He secured the Butterfield Bermuda Championship with a one-shot lead, navigating a challenging final day with an even pass 71. Unbelievable, Shang exclaimed, reflecting on the long- awaited moment. Was really hoping this day would come at some point in my life. Never really know if it is. That’s what makes the journey so amazing, interesting, and it’s a surreal moment when it finally does. The conditions at Port Royal Golf Course were far from ideal with strong winds adding an extra layer of difficulty. Tea times were moved up an hour to accommodate the weather, but the course remained a formidable test. Shank however remained steady, making a crucial birdie in his first 14 holes. Although he faced a setback with a bogey on the 15th hole, he recovered with three consecutive pass ultimately securing the win. A season of ups and downs. This victory was particularly significant given Shanks recent struggles. Heading into the week, he had only made 11 cuts in 27 starts, but this win propelled him from number 134 to number 67 in the FedEx Cup for standings, earning him a multi-year exemption on the tour. “Two sets of six missed cuts in a row, I knew it was bad,” Shank admitted, reflecting on his challenging 2025 campaign. It’s slightly embarrassing, but at the end of the day, I don’t want to say I don’t care what anybody thinks, but I have a belief in what I do and how I do things. And that was that was probably bigger than anything this week is just seeing that belief go through and how I do things. There is a method to the madness. The one-handed putter, Shanks unconventional putting technique added another layer of intrigue to his swing. He spent most of the week putting one-handed. I think the answer I came up with is there is no answer, he said with a smile, embracing his unique approach. He even practiced putting with one hand the night before the final round. Although he knew he couldn’t rely on it for the short parts due to the wind, he let his left hand rest on the grip. This decision paid off as he faced a crucial part on the 72nd hole. It was so windy on the last hole. I did the same process, but my best chance to hit it is just get up, do your process, and hit it. If you’re going to miss it, miss it quick, but don’t sit there and think about it forever, Shanks said. I took one peek at the hole. It’s windy. It’s blowing the putter around, but I feel like if I make a smooth stroke and then release it, don’t speed up, don’t slow down, just make a smooth stroke and release it, is going to have the best chance to go it, even if it blows the putter all over God’s creation. And he made it. The rewards of victory, the winman Shank avoided PGA to a Q school. He’s now exempt for 2 years. Winning’s great. is awesome, but like not having to go to Q school is so big and having two years exempt and hopefully this can catapult me because like I’ve said, I’ve told a lot of people, I’m still decent at golf. I still love it. I still care about it. Shanks said, “It’s just such a difference when you can get some parts to go in and have a few things go your way. The ties just turn. The ties just keep going your way in a sense. and I had a lot of things go my way this week and I feel like good party putting is such a result of that. Shank who isn’t a big drinker plan a low-key celebration with friends. He left Bermuda with just one sweater but also a trophy. What do you think? Do you believe in unconventional methods? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
