He is considered to be one of the up-and-coming stars of Canadian golf and his numbers are certainly demanding some attention.
Heading into the 2015 Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour sa国际传媒 season, Surrey鈥檚 Adam Svensson was on a roll, winning three straight events on the SwingThought.com mini tour in the southern U.S. before returning back home north of the 49th parallel.
The 21-year-old then finished as a runner-up at the season-opening PC Financial Open at Point Grey Golf and Country Club last week, the first of 12 events on PGA Tour sa国际传媒.
He鈥檚 in Victoria this week for the Bayview Place Island Savings Open presented by sa国际传媒 and one would be foolish to count him out.
Svensson tied for second-last week, along with fellow Canadian Riley Wheeldon of Comox and Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont., and Ross Beal of Orlando, Fla., behind champion Drew Weaver of Atlanta after a five-man playoff needed when they all finished at 12-under par.
In five events since turning pro (he left Barry University in Miami, where he was the 2014 NCAA Division II player of the year), Svensson has made almost $100,000, including an $11,500 cheque for finishing tied for second last week. The three American wins were each worth $20,000 US.
Over that span he has played his rounds at an amazing collective 81-under par.
鈥淥bviously, I was playing really well going into the [PC Financial Open] tournament. I鈥檝e always said if I鈥檓 confident with my putting I feel like I have a chance to win every week. I went in wanting to play my normal game. I almost won and I was happy with the week,鈥� said Svensson.
The former national team member got into the Point Grey event on a Golf sa国际传媒 exemption and was set to do so again this week at Uplands Golf Club. But his top-20 finish pushed him through on merit and he salvages the second exemption (a player can benefit from three on the entire season).
鈥淧eople have been asking if I was disappointed [losing out in the playoff]. I鈥檓 not that disappointed. I鈥檓 just happy I keep playing well,鈥� said Svensson, who along with Weaver made birdie on the first extra hole to reduce the five-man playoff to two.
Svensson then just missed his eight-foot putt while Weaver tapped in for the win, worth $31,000.
Svensson has now received word that he will tee it up in the Web.com Tour event in Cleveland next week. But his focus is on Victoria.
鈥淚鈥檓 just getting to know the golf course,鈥� he said of Uplands, which he toured in the Pro-Am on Tuesday and a practice round on Wednesday. He tees it up at 2:20 p.m. in Round 1 today.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a tough golf course so hitting fairways and greens are very important. You鈥檝e got to know the greens real well here because there are a lot of undulations so I鈥檓 trying to do that and I鈥檓 learning to see what I have to hit off the tees,鈥� he added.
鈥淢y goal is to finish top 20 and just keep going on [across PGA Tour sa国际传媒],鈥� he said of this recent stop.
And, most importantly, he believes that he belongs.
鈥淚 feel pretty much at home here. I鈥檝e played with some of the best golfers in the world at the Canadian Open and I鈥檝e played some Web.com events, so I don鈥檛 feel intimidated. I just want to go out there and have fun.鈥�
