Adam Svensson added three important words to his name on a chilly, testy Sunday afternoon at the RSM Classic — PGA Tour winner.
Two clutch birdies late in the final round of this PGA Tour season finale earned Svensson that all-important first win. He fought his way to 17-under par with birdies at the 10th and 11th holes at Sea Island’s Seaside course and that put him in solid contention but he’d have to fight three other would-be winners to the finish line.
The third-year player found what he needed when he holed a birdie putt from just under 18 feet at the 391-yard par three 16th to take a slim one-shot lead. Then came the par three 17th where he staked his tee shot to 10 feet and rolled that one in to get to 19-under — it was the clincher and gave him nice breathing room to play 18. A par there gave him a hard-earned 64 and a two-shot margin of victory over Callum Tarren, Sahith Theegala and Brian Harman.
“To be honest, it’s not even real right now,” Svensson said after he pick his ball out of the cup on 18. “I’m so happy. I put so much work in. To win on the PGA Tour means everything to me. I just kept believing in myself, and here I am.”
It took him 70 events to win and earn a spot in the 2023 Masters and PGA. He’s never played in a major. He’s also exempt for the next two years — a big ticket with the changes to the PGA Tour coming in 2023. “It’s been a dream of mine since I was 10 years old, 8 years old,” Svensson said. “It’s just incredible.”
Svensson didn’t look like a contender early in the week. He opened with a 73 on the easier Plantation course last Thursday and found himself tied for 108th. A second round 64 on Friday got him into the weekend then his Saturday 62 set the stage for his win.
His ball-striking has never been an issue, putting was where he needed improvement. He began working with putting coach John Graham and the results made him the second Canadian player to win in the cross-over season, joining Mackenzie Hughes. “When you have confidence when you’re putting, you feel like you can make everything and those two, three-footers, you just bang them in,” Svensson said.
And he made a lot more than the short ones. He led the RSM field in Strokes Gained Putting.
Now Svensson has the luxury of planning his schedule for 2023, one that will start in Hawaii at the Tournament of Champions.
Yes, those three words after your name are a big deal on the PGA Tour.
2 Comments
forky76
It’s a disgrace Svensson picked up 37 OWGR points for winnings this 3rd rate PGA tour event, while Rahm only got 21 OWGR points for winning the DP World Tour Championship. The change in the rankings system this year to favour size of field rather than strength of field has not been a good one. Golf can’t help shooting itself in the foot at the moment..
Tom Edrington
No argument there. If you went on strength of field, Tiger’s Hero Challenge has the strongest field year in and year out, I don’t know if it still gets ranking points, it did for a while but it took them a long time to go through the application process….guess that’s what happens when everyone “demands” an overhaul in the system, say hello to the new system.