New dad Hadwin hopes to shake off rust at TPC
Adam Hadwin is the only golfer in the field coming to TPC Sawgrass for a little rest.
Canada’s top-ranked golfer arrives at The Players Championship after spending three weeks at home in Phoenix, discovering the joys of parenthood with his wife Jessica and baby daughter Maddox, who was born in early January.
As for the state of his golf game?
“Maybe ask me again on Sunday, I’m not quite sure,” Hadwin, a native of Abbotsford, B.C., said on Tuesday. “I certainly will be rested physically. Maybe a little bit more mentally and emotionally exhausted than normal. Just trying to figure everything out that comes with a newborn.”
Baby Maddox plans to make her tour debut at the Masters in April, and already has the caddy whites ready to go.
There’s a chance Hadwin’s game will be rusty this week, but the 32-year-old is looking forward to the challenge and says that TPC Sawgrass in March suits his eye much better than the tournament’s previous date in May. Hadwin prefers the over seeded rough around the greens compared to the Bermuda that he says used to drive him crazy.
“Despite less practice, less sleep, generally less prepared than I’m used to, I feel pretty good,” he said. “I played a little bit in those three weeks and played pretty good. Hitting it well, short game is feeling good.”
Hadwin played nine holes on Tuesday and plans to do the same Wednesday before teeing it up for real on Thursday morning.
For some men, having your first child brings with it a renewed sense of inspiration, a refocus that could come in handy on the golf course. Hadwin’s not sure he falls into that camp quite yet, although he’s found extra motivation for working hard on the road.
“I’m trying to spend a little bit more time preparing for tournaments than I used,” he said. “I know that my wife’s at home, up all night looking after her, so I’m trying to make sure that I use my time a little more wisely out here. I’d feel guilty if I’m on the road, laying in bed watching Netflix.”
With two top-five finishes and a Presidents Cup appearance already under his belt this season, Hadwin heads into a busy stretch of his schedule sitting a comfortable 38th in the Fedex Cup standings. After The Players Championship, he heads to next week’s Valspar Championship, where he won in 2017. He’s at the WGC-DELL Match Play a week later.