Adam Svensson’s long-time girlfriend, Gabi Powel, says people don’t see the behind-the-scenes effort that goes into a PGA Tour players’ rise and grind. She’s been alongside the Canadian for four years and through that time Svensson has lost his PGA Tour card, won twice on the Korn Ferry Tour to get back to the biggest stage in the sport, and Sunday he finally reached the summit — the winner’s circle on the PGA Tour.
“The sacrifices aren’t easy. I am just so extremely happy for him,” Powell said. “His hard work paid off.”
Svensson, of Surrey, B.C., captured The RSM Classic by two shots after firing a 6-under 64 Sunday. That came after he shot a tournament-low 62 on Saturday to get into the final group. More impressively Svensson started the week in a tie for 108th after a Thursday 73 — the highest opening-round score by a winner on the PGA Tour in two years.
This marked the second time a Canadian won the PGA Tour in the last eight weeks, as Mackenzie Hughes won the Sanderson Farms Championship in mid-October.
Svensson earned $1.458-million USD for the win along with a spot in the Masters next year. He’s also got a two-year exemption on Tour.
“I’ve never played in a major so that’ll be pretty good,” said Svensson with a smile.
Perhaps more importantly, he said, he was rewarded for all of the extra work he’s put in on both his body, his golf, and his mental approach to the game. When he lost his PGA Tour card two years ago he was so disappointed with himself he began working with a former world champion in taekwondo.
“There’s no greater feeling than putting the work in and slowly seeing results… and then ‘boom’ one week it clicks, and you have it,” said Svensson. “I think it’s a better feeling than winning the million bucks.”
Svensson put together as elite a performance tee-to-green as any on the PGA Tour so far this season. He was fourth in Strokes Gained: Tee to Green, and first in Strokes Gained: Putting for the week — a pair of stats made more impressive considering The RSM Classic takes place across two separate courses, and the golfers had to deal with a variety of weather, including cold and blustery conditions on the final day.
Svensson’s ball striking has always been considered a strength — the Canadian’s golf swing has been the envy of many since he burst onto the scene as a junior in B.C., winning dozens of times, and a record nine times while at Barry University — but his putting has improved by leaps and bounds since working with short-game guru John Graham. He’s up 50 spots in Strokes Gained: Putting from last season to this one.
“My parents have put in a lot of work. My girlfriend sacrifices not seeing me. John has been with me for about a year and we’ve spent a lot of hours together. It’s cool to work with someone and see results,” said Svensson. “It’s pretty special.”
Svensson’s victory, in his 70th start on the PGA Tour, comes on the final day of the 2022 portion of the 2022-23 PGA Tour schedule as well as the final day of the 2022 LPGA Tour schedule. Brooke Henderson won twice this year on the women’s side, including a major, and was tied for seventh at the LPGA’s season finale — her 10th top-10 of the year. She was firmly in the mix to win Player of the Year until this final event.
The Canadian men had a banner campaign as well, with Svensson and Hughes’ victories along with Corey Conners and Taylor Pendrith becoming the first pair of Canadians to play in the Presidents Cup.
Derek Ingram, Golf Canada’s men’s head coach, says there’s “a real Team Canada” feel on the PGA Tour. Svensson, for example, was part of the organization’s junior team, amateur team, and Young Pro Squad.
“Guys want to win and if they don’t win, they want their friends from Canada that they grew up competing against and playing with to win,” Ingram told Sportsnet. “Guys are saying, ‘if he can do it, so can I’ and it’s all in a positive fashion.”
The CEO of Golf Canada, Laurence Applebaum, says this is just part of what is set to be an exciting decade in the sport for Canadians. The organization has set an ambitious goal of having 30 Canadians on the PGA Tour and LPGA Tour by 2032.
“Svensson is a proud part of an incredible period in Canadian golf and Team Canada. It has been amazing to experience this special fall run of great play, including Brooke, Mackenzie, and so many of our talented Canadian athletes competing on the world stage,” Applebaum told Sportsnet.
The last couple of years were not without their challenges for Svensson, he said, but now he’s been rewarded with the ultimate prize — a victory on the PGA Tour. Winning is something he’s done on every level, but this one — especially with the Tour heading into its off-season — is extra special.
“There’s time where I felt like I wouldn’t, but overall, I always felt like I could win on the PGA Tour… especially with what I’ve been doing the last couple years,” said Svensson. “I just kept believing in myself and telling myself every week that this was the week. Even if I missed the cut, the next week would be the week. I kept telling myself that.”
The week, finally and deservedly, has come
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