Palm Habor, FL …
The plans were for Adam Hadwin and his new bride, Jessica to spend their honeymoon in French Polynesia relaxing in the Pacific Ocean islands paradise of Tahiti and Bora Bora.
But those plans are on hold with the Hadwin’s bound for Augusta National and the Canadian’s maiden Masters appearance after a dramatic victory in the Valspar Championship.
Hadwin went into the last day leading by four shots as he targeted a maiden PGA Tour victory.
Adam Hadwin proudly lifts his maiden PGA Tour trophy – the unique Valspar Championship trophy.
That lead was down to three when he bogeyed the sixth and then down to two despite birding the 13th but after finding the water right at the 16th and walking off with a double bogey, Hadwin found himself tied a 14-under par with Patrick Cantlay.
Each pared the 17th before Cantlay, and from the middle of the fairway, found a greenside bunker from where he left his third short horribly short. Hadwin was some 30-foot long with his second before then chipping to just short of three-foot.
Cantlay stepped up but missed his par attempt leaving Hadwin the 2017 Valspar champion and securing his first PGA Tour win just weeks after becoming the only player to shoot a round of 59 on the Tour without a victory.
Now the only problem for Hadwin, who is now exempt on the PGA Tour to the end of 2019, is what to do about their honeymoon.
He and Jessica are to be married on March 22nd and then March 24th they were due to fly to Tahiti but then Hadwin thought when he booked the honeymoon some time ago he would be competing in the Puerto Rico Open and not qualified for the WGC – Match Play Championship and also the following fortnight’s Masters,
Adam Hadwin and his future wife, Jessica (Photo – PGA Tour)
“I’m just hoping I get my deposit back,” joked Hadwin.
“You laugh like I’m joking; I’m serious here. I understand I won a nice cheque this week, but I don’t like to throw money away (laughter). Luckily we were kind of smart about it. We booked refundable airfare tickets, so I can get that back. But the hotel deposit, I might have to work with the Four Seasons on that.”
But on a more serious note he was asked by www.golfbytourmiss.com what he thought now of competing in his first Masters.
“I’m pretty much speechless at this point. I don’t think — you know, I said when I shot 59, it was probably going to take a few weeks to settle in, and really kind of soak in what I did, and I think the same goes for this. It’s just such a whirlwind of emotions.
“You’re on the golf course and you’re focusing so hard, the next shot, the next shot, the next shot. And when it’s finally over and you’re holding the trophy, you’re not sure what to think at this point. You are mind is almost going, ‘I have to play well tomorrow,’ and there is no tomorrow at this point.
“But at the same time, I’m going to enjoy it, but I’ve got another tournament next week and I’m looking forward to the challenges that Bay Hill is going to bring. Hopefully jumping into contention again, and you know I’d love to say I get to sit back and relish a little bit the week of my wedding, but I think I’ll be more focused on that that week.
“I think it will truly hit me when I first make that first drive down Magnolia Lane and that that is actually happening.”
And when he does he will join two other Canadians in Mike Weir and Mackenzie Hughes in a rare triple Augusta treat for the Maple Leaf nation.
