Since 1916 the PGA Tour has been your traditional outlet for golfers all across the world, to come and chase their professional dreams. Year after year the Tour is showcasing top tier talent, and even those bringing a new viewpoint to the sport. One golfer in particular who has found his own authentic lane, Adam Schenk who is adding a one-handed put into his skillset. If that wasn’t interesting enough already, Schenk just secured his first ever PGA Tour victory in 243 events played. All while putting on his display of one-handed puts at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship.
Stay In Your Lane
Schenk joined the Tour in 2018 and has since made 138 cuts out of 243, two runner-up finishes, nine top five finishes, and now his first ever sole victory. Recently showcasing his skillset in Bermuda, Schenk battled through a field of 120 athletes and maintained his strong positioning. The tough weather variables came into play as well, with winds reaching up to 40 mph.
“When we were protected from the wind, I could use one hand and hit a lot of nice putts,” Schenk said Saturday. “Had a couple lip-outs. I don’t think I made any today with one hand, but I would put the left hand just barely on top so it was basically like putting it right-handed.”
He has come to see this as his advantage over those in the Tour, who may just be more physically gifted than himself. It’s about finding any small pointer that can help your game or mask the areas that may not be as strong to you personally.
“There’s just a lot of people out here that are just physically better at golf than me, and I have to try and outsmart them, gain any little advantage I can and give up nothing to the field, and that’s the way I have to play golf,” Schenk said in 2023 during a previous interview. ”And make putts. If I do that, great. If I make putts, I’m going to have a chance. If I don’t make putts, I just don’t have a chance.”
The Inspiration
Schenk has the ability of very few within the Tour but shares the one handed putting style with Mike Hulbert. The very same person to inspire and entertain the idea, after a conversation they had in July. Hulbert showcased his very own style of one-handed puts at the 1995 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. Eventually going on to win three times in his Tour career, and now a big influence on the first ever victory for Schenk.
“I saw something on Instagram like a day or two later,” Schenk said. “and it’s like the left hand messes up a lot of things in the short game, especially in the putting stroke and as you’re chipping or pitching, the way the club releases, and your left hand’s kind of releasing way out here.”
Being open to change is a big reason why Schenk and company were able to walk away victorious. Realizing his disadvantages in comparison to others in the Tour, is the exact reason he was able to develop arguably his biggest advantage over others now.
“I can tell you 10 different ways, theories, techniques I’ve used in my hotel room this week just trying to kind of figure it out,” Schenk said Sunday in the glow of victory. “I think the answer I come up with is there is no answer, it’s just whatever works for you works for you.”
Main Photo Credit: © Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
