PGA TOUR Power Rankings: 2017 CIMB Classic
Adam Hadwin was one of the breakout stars of the 2016-17 PGA TOUR season. He joined the magical “59 Club” at the CareerBuilder Challenge back in January, and had it not been for Hudson Swafford’s comeback Sunday, it would have been Hadwin’s first career victory. As it stood, he’d have to wait two months to tame the Snake Pit at the Valspar Championship before claiming that honor.
Hadwin backed that win up with a sixth-place showing at the Arnold Palmer Invitational the following week, but unfortunately, he could only break into the top ten once more, at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. Hadwin did qualify for the TOUR Championship, but finished just 23rd.
Why the confidence, then, you may ask? For starters, that 59 wasn’t a mistake – Hadwin really does have the raw talent it takes to be a winner on the PGA TOUR. I also think he’s got a little bit of a chip on his shoulder after the Presidents Cup, where he went 0-2-1. He did pair with Hideki Matsuyama to halve a match against the American superteam of Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed, so that should have gotten the competitive juices flowing extra strong.
Hadwin may feel like a bit of a long shot, but in this reduced field of 78, he’s got all the skills needed to contend. Look for him to build on his T-21 debut here last year.