The Bermuda Championship is heating up, with a thrilling final round on the horizon! Adam Schenk and Braden Thornberry are tied for the lead, and the pressure is on as they battle for a PGA Tour card.
A Tense Chase for a PGA Tour Card
In Southampton, Bermuda, on November 15, 2025, Adam Schenk played a bogey-free round in challenging windy conditions, shooting a remarkable 4-under 67. This performance put him in a tie with Braden Thornberry, a PGA Tour rookie and former NCAA champion, at 12-under 201. With the season coming to an end, the stakes are high for both players and their fellow competitors.
Thornberry, ranked 178th, knows that only a win will secure his PGA Tour card with a two-year exemption. Meanwhile, Schenk, at 134th, is running out of options. He has made some strategic adjustments to his game in recent months, and it's paying off at Port Royal. Despite being winless in 242 PGA Tour starts, he now has a real chance at a breakthrough.
"It's a great opportunity for tomorrow," Schenk said. "I know if I don't make it inside the top 100, I'll have to go through Q-school, so that's a huge motivator."
A Tight Race with Many Contenders
But they're not alone in this pursuit. The top 11 players on the leaderboard, many of whom started the season outside the top 100 in the FedEx Cup, are all in the running. The RSM Classic at Sea Island next week will be the final chance for these players to secure their PGA Tour cards.
The group one stroke behind the leaders includes Adam Hadwin of Canada, who held the 36-hole lead but had to settle for a 71, tying him for third. Other contenders include Max McGreevy, Chandler Phillips, and Takumi Kanaya of Japan, who all shot impressive rounds. Rikuya Hoshino is two strokes behind, while Vince Whaley, at 86th in the FedEx Cup, is virtually assured of staying in the top 100.
The Wind Factor and the Pressure Cooker
Adding to the tension is the persistent wind, which has been a challenging factor throughout the tournament. Thornberry believes the key is to take advantage of the wind when it helps and hold on tight when it doesn't. He cited the par-3 16th hole, which played at 124 yards, as an example of the unpredictable nature of the wind.
"You just have to accept that some shots won't end up near the hole, even with a decent swing. It's a battle out there, and that's the essence of it," Thornberry explained.
A Second Chance for Schenk?
Schenk's story is an inspiring one. In 2023, he proved that players can work their way into big events even without winning the signature $20 million tournaments at the start of the season. He made it to the Tour Championship without a win and played in all the majors in 2024. Now, he feels like he's starting over, but the 33-year-old is confident in the changes he made in September.
"I wish I had made these changes earlier in the season, but here we are. If I can make some putts tomorrow, despite the wind, and play another bogey-free round, it would be incredible," Schenk said.
The final round promises to be an exciting and tense battle as these players fight for their PGA Tour futures. Who will emerge victorious? Will Schenk's late-season surge be enough? And what about Thornberry's quest for a two-year exemption? These questions will be answered in the coming hours, and the golf world is eagerly awaiting the outcome.
What do you think? Who will claim the PGA Tour card? Share your predictions and thoughts in the comments below!
