Dive into the thrilling final round at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship where Adam Schenk and Braden Thornberry are tied for the lead in a high-stakes battle for a PGA TOUR card.
With the FedEx Cup standings tightening and only the RSM Classic left, these golfers are fighting to secure their spots among the top 100.
Adam Schenk, at No. 134, played a bogey-free 67 in windy conditions, sharing the 54-hole lead with Thornberry’s 69.
Braden Thornberry, a PGA TOUR rookie, needs a win for a two-year exemption.
Other contenders like Adam Hadwin and Max McGreevy are close behind in this tense chase.
Watch highlights of key shots, including Schenk’s birdie putt and Thornberry’s eagle, as they navigate the challenging Bermuda winds.
PGA TOUR Bermuda Championship golf highlights FedEx Cup standings Adam Schenk Braden Thornberry golf tournament golf news
Imagine the thrilling edge of a cliff where a single swing could mean the difference between glory and a career reset. This is the heartpounding reality unfolding at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship, where golfers are battling not just the wind and waves, but the ticking clock of their professional futures. But here’s where it gets controversial. Is this intense scramble for a PGA Tour card a fair test of skill, or does it unfairly favor the elite? Dive in as we explore how Adam Shank and Braden Thornberry are locked in a nail-biting duel for the lead with the stakes higher than ever. On a blustery Saturday in Southampton, Bermuda, Adam Shank delivered a flawless performance, carding a bogree for under 67 amidst relentless winds. This stellar round catapulted him to a shared lead with Braden Thornberry, setting up what has evolved into a gripping pursuit of a coveted PGA Tour card at the prestigious Butterfield Bermuda Championship. Thornberry, a fresh-faced PGA Tour newcomer who clinched the NCAA championship at Mississippi 8 years back, matched the excitement with a solid 69, bringing both players to 12 under par for the tournament. With just one round remaining, the margin for mistakes is razor thin, adding layers of tension to an already dramatic scene. What makes this chase even more compelling is the backdrop. Shank and Thornberry are part of a group of 10 players from the top 11 on the leaderboard who entered the event outside the top 100 in the FedEx Cup rankings. For those new to Golf Elite Circuits, the FedEx Cup is like a point base season long leaderboard that determines who keeps their spot on the PGA Tour. This year, the rules have shifted only the top 100 earn automatic status down from the previous top 125 threshold. The season wraps up next week at the RSM Classic in Sea Island, Georgia, meaning time is critically short for these players to climb the ladder. Shank, currently ranked at number 134, is feeling the pressure of dwindling opportunities. But in recent months, he’s tweaked his game with small strategic changes, think refining his setup or adjusting his mental approach, and it’s paying dividends right here at Port Royal Golf Course where the championship is being held. And this is the part most people miss. Despite being winless in 242 PGA Tour starts, Shank has unexpectedly found himself in contention. A testament to how persistence and timely improvements can transform fortunes. I’m staring at a fantastic chance to seize tomorrow, Shank shared, reflecting on his shared 54 hole lead, his first since the Colonial Tournament 2 years ago. If I don’t crack the top 100, Q School looms as my next step, and that’s a massive incentive, he added. For beginners, QC School, short for qualifying school, is an intense tournament series that allows golfers to earn tour status through high stakes, multi-stage play. It’s like a final exam for professional golf dreams, often grueling and unpredictable. Thornberry, sitting at number 178, knows that only a victory would guarantee his card, complete with a 2-year exemption from further qualifying hassles. Yet, they’re not alone in this high stakes game. Trailing by just one stroke is a talented pack, including Canadian Adam Hadwin, who held the lead after 36 holes, but settled for a 71, tying for third. Others in the mix are Max McGrevy with a 69, Chandler Phillips at 70, and Japan’s Tkumi Kanaya firing a 66, Rakuya Hosino rounded out the contenders with a 67, sitting two shots back. The only player within striking distance who seems relatively insulated from the frenzy is Vince Why, whose 68 keeps him in good shape. At number 86 in the FedEx Cup is practically assured a tops 100 finish avoiding the cutthroat pressure others are facing. Compounding the drama is the unyielding wind which refused to relent throughout the day. Thornberry described his strategy as seizing moments when the gusts worked in his favor and clinging tightly when they didn’t. Take the par 316th hole for instance, which played a mere 124 yd. a prime example of how unpredictable elements can turn a routine shot into a battle. I attempted a sixiron chip, but the wind shifted unexpectedly. Thornberry explained, “On plays like that, you just have to accept that even a solid swing might not get you close to the pin. The real trick is to grind it out. That’s the essence of survival here.” Shank’s journey offers a fascinating counterpoint to the narrative of overnight success. In 2023, he exemplified how players can infiltrate major events, even the biggest ones, without securing spots in the lucrative $20 million signature tournament early on. He reached the tour championship without a win and qualified for all for majors in 2024. Now, at 33 years old and hailing from Indiana, it feels like he’s hitting the reset button, but he’s optimistic about the tweaks he implemented in September. I regret not making these adjustments earlier in the year. It might have kept me out of this precarious spot, Shank admitted. But if I can sink some putts tomorrow despite the wind making it tough and go boge free again, that would be incredible. This highlights a controversial aspect. Does the compressed FedEx Cup field unfairly penalize consistent performers like Shank who build momentum late or is it a necessary evolution to keep the tour elite and competitive? Some argue it rewards the bold and timely, while others see it as a barrier for those who peak later in the season. As the final round approaches, what do you think? Should the PGA Tour tweak its qualifying rules to give more leeway for late bloomers, or is the current system a fair crucible for separating the best? Do you side with Shanks resilience or wonder if Thornberry’s fresh momentum gives him an edge? Share your thoughts in the comments. Let’s debate the drama of Golf’s highstakes chase.
