Adam Schenk and Braden Thornberry lead the Butterfield Bermuda Championship, battling for a PGA TOUR card! With the wind making play tough, the competition is fierce. Watch highlights of their impressive shots, including Schenk’s bogey-free round and Thornberry’s long putt. Discover the pressure of the top 100 in the FedEx Cup rankings and the impact of the RSM Classic. Don’t miss the final round!
The race for a PGA Tour card has never been more intense. And this weekend in Bermuda, it’s turning into a nailbiter. Imagine standing on the edge of a cliff knowing one misstep could mean falling out of the top 100. And with it, your tour privileges. That’s the reality for Adam Shank and Braden Thornberry, who currently share the lead at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship. But here’s where it gets controversial. With the season ending next week and the cutoff now at the top 100 instead of 125, the pressure is unprecedented. And this is the part most people miss. It’s not just about winning, it’s about survival. Adam Shank, sitting at number 134 in the FedEx Cup standings, delivered a bogey-free four under 67 on Saturday, navigating strong winds with precision. His performance at Port Royal Golf Course wasn’t just impressive, it was a lifeline. Shank, who has yet to win in 242 PGA Tour starts, admitted, “I know if I don’t get inside the top 100, I have to go to Q school. That’s a pretty big motivator.” His minor game adjustments over the past few months are paying off, but the question remains, is it too little, too late? Braden Thornberry, a PGA Tour rookie and former NCAA champion from Mississippi, shot a 69 to match Shank at 12 under 201. At number 178 in the standings, Thornberry needs nothing short of a win to secure his card. A tall order, but not impossible. his strategy. Take advantage when the wind helps and hold on for dear life when it doesn’t, he said, highlighting the par 316th hole is a prime example of how quickly conditions can turn against you. But they’re not alone in this high stakes chase. Adam Hadwin, Max McGrevy, Chandler Phillips, and Tkumi Kaya are all within striking distance, tied for third at 11 under. Meanwhile, Rkuyua Hosino sits two shots back, and Vince Why, comfortably at number 86, is the only player in the top group without the same level of stress. Yet, the wind, a relentless adversary, has made every shot a battle, adding another layer of complexity to an already tense competition. Here’s the controversial interpretation. The new top 100 cutoff feels like a double-edged sword. While it raises the stakes and rewards consistency, it also leaves less room for error, potentially pushing talented players like Shank and Thornberry to the brink. Is this system fair, or does it unfairly penalize those who’ve had a rough season? And what does it say about the tour’s priorities when even former Tour Championship qualifiers like Shank feel like they’re starting over? As the final round approaches, Shank is optimistic about his changes, particularly those made in September. I wish I could have done this earlier in the season, he reflected, but if I can make some putts tomorrow and play another bogey-free round, that would be awesome. Thornberry, meanwhile, is focused on staying in the moment, knowing one bad swing could cost him everything. So, here’s the question for you. Do you think the new top 100 cutoff is a necessary evolution for the PGA Tour, or does it create unnecessary pressure? And who do you think will emerge victorious in Bermuda? Let us know in the comments. This is one debate you won’t want to miss.
