He’s been long recognized as one of the better ballstrikers on the PGA Tour, but now Surrey, BC’s Adam Svensson can add PGA Tour winner beside his name with a decisive win at the RSM Classic.
By shooting a remarkable 14-under over the weekend, including birdies on two of his final three holes to move him into the solo lead, Svensson recorded his first win on the PGA Tour in 70 starts. Svensson, a standout junior golfer, left college in his second year to pursue professional golf in 2015.
He started playing on PGA Tour Canada that year and showed significant promise, moving to the Korn Ferry Tour in 2016. He made it to the PGA Tour in 2018, but struggled, and went back to the Korn Ferry Tour before breaking through in 2021-22 with $1.2 million in winnings.
“To be honest, it is not even real right now—I’m just so happy,” said Svensson, 28, in an interview after his round. “It means everything to me. It’s been an up-and-down journey. I’ve had lows. I’ve had highs. But I just kept believing in myself and here I am.”
With the win, Svensson becomes the second Canadian to win the RSM. Dundas, Ont.’s Mackenzie Hughes recorded a victory at the RSM, his first on the PGA Tour, in 2016. Fellow Canadian Taylor Pendrith was in the mix at the RSM as well, finishing in a tie for 15th after a 1-under final round bounced him down the leaderboard.
Svensson said he was trying not to make any mistakes in his final round, knowing the leaderboard was bunched up and he was being chased by a significant number of notable players, including veteran Brian Harman and Joel Dahmen. Playing in cool conditions, Svensson looked confident making a long birdie on 16, and hit a draw into the par 3 17th, leaving him 10 feet left of the hole. “The one on 17, I didn’t think it would go in, but somehow the golf gods made it happen,” he said.
The putt seemed destined to stay out but horseshoed in to give Svensson a two-shot lead, which is where it stayed.
“To be honest I just tried to make no bogeys today,” Svensson said. “I didn’t even look at the scoreboard until 16. It’s unbelievable.”
Overall, Svensson said a change in approach led him to the victory, which puts US$1.4 million into his bank, and gives him a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour, as well as a start in the Masters in April.
“Two years ago, I made a decision to give it 100 percent or I was quitting because it was going the wrong way,” he said. “It was a good choice.”
Adam Svensson – What’s in the bag
Driver: Callaway Rogue ST Triple Diamond LS
3-wood: Callaway Rogue ST LS
Hybrid: Callaway Apex
Irons: Callaway X Forged CB (4), Callaway Apex MB (5-9)
Wedges: Callaway Jaws MD5 (46, 52, 56, 60)
Putter: Odyssey Toulon Design Palm Beach
Ball: Callaway Chrome Soft X