Adam Schenk and Braden Thornberry are tied for the lead at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship, with a crucial PGA TOUR card on the line. This tournament is a tense battle for players outside the top 100 in the FedEx Cup, as they fight to secure their spot for next season.
Schenk, currently at No. 134, is making key adjustments to his game at the right time. Thornberry, at No. 178, needs a win to guarantee his card. The strong winds at Port Royal are adding to the pressure.
We break down the leaderboard, including contenders like Adam Hadwin, Max McGreevy, and Takumi Kanaya, and discuss the significance of this event for their careers. Who will emerge victorious and secure their PGA TOUR card?
The race for a PGA Tour card has never been more intense. And right now, Bermuda is the epicenter of this highstakes battle. Imagine standing on the edge of a cliff knowing one misstep could cost you your career. That’s the pressure Adam Shank and Braden Thornberry are facing as they share the lead at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship. But here’s where it gets even more gripping. Both players are outside the top 100 in the FedEx Cup standings. And with the season ending next week, time is running out. Adam Shank, who has yet to secure a win in 242 PGA Tour starts, delivered a masterful performance on Saturday, navigating strong winds to shoot a bogey-free 4 under 67. This put him at 12 under 201 carded a 69. Thornberry, a PGA Tour rookie and former NCA champion from Mississippi, knows the stakes are even higher. Only a win here will secure his card, complete with a 2-year exemption. And this is the part most people miss. They’re not alone in this fight. Among the top 11 on the leaderboard, 10 players arrived in Bermuda outside the top 100. Desperate to climb the ranks before the RSM Classic at Sea Island concludes the season. This year, only the top 100 earn cards, down from the previous 125, adding an extra layer of urgency. Shank, currently at number 134, has been making subtle adjustments to his game in recent months, and they’re paying off at the most critical moment. It’s a great opportunity, he said, acknowledging the looming threat of Qchool if he falls short. That’s a pretty big motivator. Thornberry, sitting at number 178, echoed the sentiment, though his path is narrower. His long eagle putt on the 17th hole was a highlight, but he knows consistency in the wind is key. You have to battle it out, he explained, reflecting on the unpredictable conditions that can turn a solid shot into a challenge. Take the par 316th hole for instance, where a sudden windshift can make even a wellexecuted swing feel like a gamble. But here’s the controversial part. Is the new top 100 cutoff fair? Some argue it’s a necessary evolution to keep the tour competitive, while others believe it leaves too little room for error. What do you think? Let’s debate this in the comments. Meanwhile, the competition remains fierce. Adam Hadwin of Canada who held the 36 hole lead settled for a 71 and is tied for third alongside Max McGrevy Chandler Phillips and Japan’s Takumi Kaya. Rakuya Hosino is two shots back after 67 and Vince Whe6 in the FedEx Cup is the only contender within three shots of the lead who isn’t feeling the same heat. He’s virtually guaranteed to stay in the top 100. Shanks journey is particularly noteworthy. In 2023, he proved players could work their way into major events without starting in the $20 million signature tournaments, even making it to the tour championship without a win. Now at 33, he’s reinventing himself, feeling optimistic about changes he made in September. I wish I’d done this earlier, he admitted. But if I can make some putts tomorrow and play another bogey-free round, that would be awesome. As the final round approaches, the question lingers. Who will rise to the occasion and who will falter under pressure? One things for sure. This isn’t just a golf tournament. It’s a fight for survival. And we’ll be watching every swing.
