The Butterfield Bermuda Championship is heating up! Adam Schenk and Braden Thornberry are tied for the lead, battling for a PGA TOUR card. With the top 100 in the FedEx Cup securing their cards, the pressure is on.
Schenk, at No. 134, is making a late-season push, while Thornberry, at No. 178, needs a win. Other contenders include Adam Hadwin, Max McGreevy, Chandler Phillips, and Takumi Kanaya. Vince Whaley, at No. 86, is in a safer position. The windy conditions add to the challenge. Don’t miss the final round!
Imagine standing on the edge of a cliff, your PGA Tour card dangling just out of reach. That’s the reality for Adam Shank and Braden Thornberry, who find themselves locked in a nail-biting duel at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship. But here’s where it gets controversial. With the season’s end looming and the top 100 cutoff replacing the previous 125, this tournament isn’t just about winning, it’s about survival. Shank, currently ranked 134th, delivered a masterful bogey-free 67 in blustery conditions on Saturday, tying Thornberry at 12 under 201. Thornberry, a former NCA champion making his PGA Tour rookie splash, carded a 69, knowing only a victory will secure his card. And this is the part most people miss. They’re not alone in this high-stake scramble. 10 of the top 11 players on the leaderboard arrived in Bermuda outside the coveted top 100, their backs against the wall. Adam Hadwin, who held the 36 hole lead, slipped to a tie for third with a 71, joined by Max McGrevy, Chandler Phillips, and Japan’s Takumi Kaya. Rakuya Hashino lurks two shots back, while Vince Why, comfortably positioned at 86th in the FedEx Cup, enjoys a relatively stress-free chase. The relentless wind adds another layer of complexity. As Thornberry aptly described, “You get some shots that you have to accept are not going to end up near the hole, even if you make a decent swing. Just try to battle it out. That’s really just the key to it all.” Shank, despite 242 winless starts on tour, finds himself in uncharted territory, leading after 54 holes for the first time since 2021. I know if I don’t win, I have to go to Q school if I don’t get inside the top 100, he admitted, highlighting the stark reality. Thornberry’s situation is even more precarious at 178th. Only a win will do. Yet, both players have shown resilience. Shank, who qualified for the Tour Championship and all majors in 2024 without a win, credits recent adjustments to his game for this late season surge. Here’s a thought-provoking question. Does the new top 100 cutoff create unnecessary pressure, potentially stifling player development, or is it a necessary evolution for a more competitive tour? As the final round unfolds, the drama in Bermuda promises to be intense. Will Shank finally break through? Can Thornberry pull off the miracle win? One thing’s certain, Sunday’s round will be a testament to the grit and determination of players fighting for their tour lives. Let us know your thoughts in the comments. Who do you think will emerge victorious? And what’s your take on the new cutoff system?
