Journeyman Adam Long the unlikeliest of PGA Tour winners
Adam Long, the 417th ranked player in the world, birdied the 72nd hole to stun Phil Mickelson and Adam Hadwin at the Desert Classic on Sunday.
When Adam Long arrived at the Desert Classic this week for his sixth PGA Tour start, he could’ve been confused for one of the amateurs playing the pro-am. A 31-year-old rookie, Long had spent his entire pro career on golf’s fringes, toiling on the mini tour circuit and the Web.com Tour
Even on Sunday, when he was just three shots off the lead, few would’ve have given him a second look. After all, he was playing in the same group with Hall of Famer Phil Mickelson and Adam Hadwin. Sometimes, though, the underdog wins.
Long shot seven-under 65 at the Stadium Course in La Quinta, California, birding the 72nd hole to finish at 26-under and beat Mickelson and Hadwin by a shot.
His story leading up to his first PGA Tour title is one of patience and perseverance. Long turned pro in 2010, and in the first years of his career played throughout North America on mini tours, collecting a paycheck wherever he could. His only win as a pro before Sunday came in 2011 on the Hooters Tour. Long finally joined the Web.com Tour full-time in 2015, but never won in 113 career starts there.
Still, even after all those long years of struggle, Long never doubted he would make it. “The first two, three, four years of playing pro I was kind of struggling playing the mini tours, wasn’t getting on the Web.com Tour,” he said at his press conference on Sunday. “I wasn’t doing great, but I never really doubted. I still wanted to play. I still loved it and still wanted to see how good I could get.”
“The last two to three years, even four years, on the Web.com Tour I’ve progressed. I’ve gotten better. So I’ve always thought, as long as I feel like I’m getting better at golf and not taking backwards steps too much, I got to keep going.”
Joining the PGA Tour this season, Long’s best finish was a tie for 63rd at the Safeway Open in October. He had missed the cut in his last three events, and seven out of eight dating back to last season. Coming into the week he was 417th in the World Golf Rankings.
Despite finding himself in contention on Sunday, his chances of pulling off the upset still seemed bleak. Mickelson held a two-shot lead over Hadwin at the start of the round. Mickelson was playing the weekend for the 499th time in his career; Long was making just his second PGA Tour cut.
Mickelson, though, struggled with his putter all day. He ranked 72nd out of 73 players in strokes gained: putting on Sunday, allowing Hadwin to take the lead. The Canadian native has felt at home in La Quinta the past few years. He shot 59 at this tournament two years ago, and had finished no worse than sixth in his last three appearances.
Hadwin shot five-under on his front-nine, building up a four-shot lead. His last birdie, however, came at the 11th. After a bogey at the par-three 13th he let Mickelson and Long back in the tournament.
Long made a 20-foot birdie putt at the 15th to tie Hadwin for the lead, and came to the 18th in a three-way tie. His drive went into the right rough, but his approach to the green from 171 yards out settled within 13 feet. After Mickelson and Hadwin both failed to make birdie, Long holed his attempt to finish off the upset.
Long admits his mantra for the round, knowing all he’s gone through to get to this point, was to just enjoy the experience. He, as much as anyone, knows these opportunities don’t come around too often.
“Honestly, I didn’t know how I’d feel. I felt nervous, but I kind of always do before I play,” he described his emotions before teeing off. “I wasn’t freaking out by any means, but I kept telling myself I had nothing to lose. I was just trying to have a blast. I mean, how often are you going to get to play with Phil on Sunday?”
Long was planning to play a qualifier for the Farmers Insurance Open tomorrow, but this win changes all those plans. He now has a PGA Tour card for the next two years, and earns invitations to the major championships. After all those years of uncertainly, Long can be sure of one thing now: he’s finally made it.