To suggest it’s been a busy few weeks for Adam Hadwin may be something of an understatement.
The Abbotsford golfer – who lists South Surrey’s Morgan Creek Golf Course as his home course – has, in the last month or so, won his first-ever PGA Tour event, nearly won a second, got married and ventured home ownership.
Oh, and this week he’s preparing for a little golf tournament called The Masters, arguably the most prestigious event on the pro circuit’s calendar.
“March has been a pretty crazy month, from getting that first win at (Valspar Championship), to being in contention at Bay Hill… then of course, our wedding last Friday,” Hadwin said on a PGA Tour Canada conference call Thursday morning.
“It’s been, honestly, a whirlwind month. We actually just bought a house, as well, and closed yesterday on it. I’m still figuring out what’s going on – I feel a little bit lost.
“Obviously, with Masters coming up… I’m trying to shift the focus to there as well. Certainly, all very good things happening – lots of great things in life right now, but certainly been quite a whirlwind.”
The most recent life event for the 29-year-old was his wedding March 24 to his wife Jessica. The pair had planned to embark on a tropical honeymoon but by virtue of Hadwin’s first-ever PGA win in early March – a victory that secured him a spot at The Masters – plans changed, and instead of boarding a plane to the South Pacific, the Hadwins instead travelled Saturday to Georgia, home of the fabled Augusta National Golf Club.
“Playing in your first Masters, getting to drive up Magnolia Lane the first time, and to be on the grounds and be part of history and tradition that the Masters has – if I can’t get up and get ready for that, I don’t know what event I’d be able to do it for,” Hadwin said.
“(Jessica) is probably not as excited as I am. I think she’d rather be in Bora Bora right now, but we’re both excited. It’s going to be a great week and certainly, we’re always going to remember this first one.”
Hadwin told reporters he planned to play a practice round at Augusta Sunday, and yesterday (Tuesday) he played a another warm-up round with fellow Canadians Mackenzie Hughes and Mike Weir, who in 2003 became the first-ever Canadian to win the tournament.
And though Hadwin and Weir both play different styles of golf, the Masters rookie said there was much he could learn from the veteran – as well as others on the Tour.
“There’s going to be things he did in ’03 that will be different (than what I’ll do). But he found a way to fit his game to Augusta and be the best player that week. Certain shots, certain greens – where to go (with the ball) – he might have input on where you can go or where you can’t,” Hadwin said.
“A lot of it is just dealing with Augusta and how to mentally prepare. I think he’ll have some great insight into that, as well… I’ve been trying to get advice from many different people.”
Hadwin did acknowledge there is something of a mystique surrounding The Masters – both the tournament itself, as well as the golf course. And though there is a certain pressure that comes along with it, the first-timer said he hoped to be prepared enough prior to Thursday’s first round so as to not let that pressure get to him.
“The Masters has this ‘winners only’ or ‘great players only’ type of feel to it,” he said, referring to the tournament’s entry rules, which include a top-ranking or winning a previous PGA tournament or Masters.
“You’ve had to do something extremely special to get into it… I just think it has a little bit of heightened prestige around it.
“I wouldn’t say that I’m feeling the nerves just yet, but once I get onto the grounds on Sunday, I might feel differently… It might have some sort of aura about it, but it’s still a golf tournament.”
He doesn’t feel like inexperience will hamper him in any way this week, he said.
“I’ve gone to lots of golf courses I’ve never played before and played well… it’s just a matter of going there and getting my bearings.”
Tee times and groupings – which golfers will play together for rounds 1 and 2 – were announced Tuesday after Peace Arch News’ press deadline.
Hadwin admits that, growing up, he’s imagined himself winning a prestigious green jacket, which is awarded to the winner each year along with a first-place cheque for $1.8 million.
“I’ve made many a putt to win the Masters while practising,” he joked.
“I’m going to go in there with confidence – I’ve had some success against great fields, so it’s just a matter of preparing the best I can and seeing where my game stacks up against the best players.
“It’s going to be a great week, it really is.”
