Hadwin finds his comfort zone
AUGUSTA, GA. In the past month, Adam Hadwin has won his first PGA Tour tournament, got married, and played in his first major championship. How long will it take to lose the happy feelings?
“About one double-bogey on 17,” Hadwin said with a rueful smile Friday. “It’s a quick slap in the face when things are going well.”
The 29-year-old from Abbotsford, B.C., was sailing around Augusta National Golf Club with an even-par second round when he hooked his tee shot on the 17th hole and put himself in the trees. He tried a recovery shot through the pines, but the ball clipped a branch and dropped straight down. After a pitch and a couple of putts, Hadwin was at 2-over 74 for the day and 5-over for the tournament.
A solid par on the final hole, though, ensured he will play on the weekend. A good day, even if it was somewhat uneventful.
“Boring is great out here,” Hadwin said in front of the clubhouse after his round. “Especially in these conditions. I kept it in play.
“I was just kind of cruising. I was comfortable. Nothing great, but, like I said, boring out here is good. Just two bad swings on 17 led to a double,” Hadwin said. “But they are very easy to do out here, and they come quickly.”
Hadwin said he started to think about his position coming down the stretch, although he didn’t know where he stood on the leaderboard. He was inside the top 25 for most of the day, though the late double dropped him to just inside the top 40.
Hadwin said the two rounds amid swirling and steady winds have been a grind.
“I’m exhausted right now,” he said. “I’m ready for a few naps and ready for a good night’s sleep, but this is fun. This is where we want to be. This is what you want to do week in and week out and maybe start playing well in majors now and contending.”
He said he won’t set a score in mind on the weekend but “go out and hit some good shots and try and make a few putts.”
The top-12 finishers on Sunday will earn an invite to the 2018 Masters.
“Getting to walk Augusta now two more times, getting to play the weekend in my first time here … you know, a lot of confidence, but still a lot of work to do out there.”
The first two rounds weren’t as enjoyable for the other Canadians in the field. Mike Weir, the 2003 Masters champion, shot 79 on Friday to leave him at 11-over, well outside the cut line.
Mackenzie Hughes, the 26-yearold from Dundas, Ont., playing in his first Masters, shot 80 on Friday for a 15-over total after two rounds.