SOUTHAMPTON, Bermuda (AP) — Adam Hadwin got off to the start he needed in his quest to retain full PGA Tour playing privileges, shooting an under-65 in windy conditions Thursday in the first round of the Butterfield Championship in Bermuda that was not completed because of darkness.
Hadwin entered the week ranked No. 147 in the FedEx Cup standings; The top 100 after next week's RSM Classic will retain their touring cards for next year. He beat Takumi Kanaya by one shot. Braden Thornberry was also 5 under with two holes to play at Port Royal.
Hadwin, 38, a two-time Presidents Cup player from Abbotsford, British Columbia, had never missed the FedEx Cup playoffs in his decade on tour prior to this year.
“A little bit of an ego shock, I won’t lie,” Hadwin said. “It might have hindered me a little bit throughout the season as I continued to struggle a little bit. I reached a point, though probably too late, probably in July or August, where I kind of accepted where I was, I just had to fight until the end.
“I truly believe my best golf is yet to come, there's a lot more in me and then I'll be a better player once I get through this. It was just a matter of when I get through this and today is a good start.”
Fellow Canadian Adam Svensson of Surrey, British Columbia, shot a 2-over 73, and Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ontario, shot 74.
Kanaya and Thornberry also started the week outside the top 100. Ryo Hisatsune, Alex Smalley and Isaiah Salinda each shot 67, and Frankie Capan III was 4 under with two holes to play.
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