Adam Schenk has long been a familiar face on the PGA Tour, grinding through tournaments with a quiet determination and a relentless work ethic. But on Sunday, November 16, 2025, at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship, the Indiana native finally broke through, capturing his first PGA Tour victory in dramatic fashion at the Port Royal Golf Course in Bermuda. And what a day it was—winds howled at 30 miles per hour, with gusts reaching up to 45, turning the lush fairways into a true test of nerve and creativity.
For Schenk, this was no ordinary win. It came in his 243rd start on the PGA Tour, a testament to perseverance and belief. Before the tournament, he was sitting at No. 134 in the FedEx Cup standings, just two events away from potentially losing his full tour status and being sent back to Q-school. The stakes could hardly have been higher. But as the winds battered Port Royal, Schenk kept his composure, relying on inventive shot-making and a revamped putting technique to seize the biggest moment of his career.
"I’ve putt for PGA Tour wins so many times in my barn," Schenk admitted, reflecting on the surreal feeling of closing out a victory on golf’s grand stage. "To see one go in is something I’ll never forget." According to the Associated Press, Schenk’s victory wasn’t just about holding his nerve—it was about executing under the harshest conditions. He made just one birdie during the final round, but it was his four crucial par saves that truly defined the day. The last of those came on the 18th hole, where his approach shot sailed just over the green, leaving him with a tricky putt through six feet of fringe. The wind tugged at his ball, leaving it five feet short. But Schenk, undaunted, rolled in the par putt to clinch the win, holding off Chandler Phillips, who also carded a 71 and finished just one shot back.
"I knew I could win. It’s just a matter of executing each shot and handling each situation I put myself in," Schenk said after the round. "I can’t believe it’s over. It seems like the longest day ever." For anyone who watched the closing holes, it certainly felt like time slowed down as the wind threatened to upend the leaderboard at every turn.
The field fought not only each other but the elements. Takumi Kanaya of Japan, playing in the final group with Schenk, was just one shot back coming to the last hole. The left-to-right wind ballooned his approach into a back bunker. Kanaya responded with a superb sand shot to four feet, but the wind once again played a role—his par putt lipped out, and he finished just short of forcing a playoff. Phillips, meanwhile, saw his runner-up finish propel him to No. 92 in the FedEx Cup, securing his card for next season.
For Schenk, the win was especially sweet given the recent struggles he’d endured. Earlier in the summer, he missed six consecutive cuts, a stretch that would test any golfer’s confidence. Determined to turn things around, he made several tweaks to his game, most notably adopting a one-handed putting grip to address what had been his biggest weakness. The change paid off in Bermuda, as Schenk holed nervy putts from six to eight feet on the 12th and 14th holes, and pulled off a gutsy par save on the treacherous par-3 16th, perched right on the edge of the Atlantic. There, he lost his balance slightly on his chip but managed to leave himself just three feet for par, which he calmly converted.
It’s not every day that a player’s breakthrough comes under such brutal conditions. The wind was so severe that tournament officials moved up tee times to avoid the worst of it. Schenk’s ability to adapt was on full display: on the par-5 17th, he kept his ball no more than three feet off the ground, contorting his wrist and adjusting his stance to keep his shots under the gusts. He flighted wedge shots directly into the wind and powered chip shots against it—showcasing not just skill, but creativity and guts.
With the victory, Schenk earned a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour, a lifeline at a time when only the top 100 in the FedEx Cup will retain full status for 2026. He’s also punched his ticket to at least one $20 million signature event next year, as well as the PGA Championship and The Players Championship. Not bad for a player who, just months ago, was staring down the prospect of returning to Q-school.
Schenk’s journey to this moment has been marked by steady progress—and plenty of hard work. As of 2025, his net worth is estimated at $5 million, bolstered by career prize money totaling $4,755,818. According to reports, his total career earnings reached $10,832,289 as of 2023, with his best year coming in 2018-19, when he raked in $1,257,158. On average, he’s pulled in around $1.8 million per year, thanks in part to endorsement deals with brands like PXG, Unisys, Jani-King, Brinker’s Jewelers, and Dormie Network.
While the Bermuda triumph marks his first win, Schenk has shown flashes of brilliance throughout his career. Earlier in the 2025 season, he tied for fifth at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, finishing at 17-under-par. He also competed in The Masters in April 2025, though he didn’t claim victory there. In June, he made his fourth consecutive start at the US Open, held at Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania. Despite high hopes for a breakthrough in a major, Schenk finished tied for 50th, 14 strokes over par, with round scores of 71-72-76-75. It wasn’t the result he wanted, but it was another valuable learning experience on golf’s toughest stages.
Twice a runner-up in 2023—the year he first reached the Tour Championship—Schenk’s persistence has finally paid off. He’s now a PGA Tour winner, a status that comes with not just financial security but a sense of validation after years of grinding. "To see one go in is something I’ll never forget," he said, echoing the dreams of countless golfers who’ve practiced in barns, backyards, and local courses, waiting for their moment.
As the sun set on a blustery day at Port Royal, Adam Schenk stood atop the leaderboard, his name etched in the record books. With a two-year exemption secured and new opportunities on the horizon, Schenk’s breakthrough in Bermuda could be the start of a thrilling new chapter in his career. For now, he can savor the sweet taste of victory—earned the hard way, against the odds, and in unforgettable style.
