Former Barry University golfer looking to continue recent success at Honda Classic

Virtually any golfer – the best of the pros and the worst of the amateurs -- will be quick to testify that the game has an abundance of ups and downs.

Adam Svensson, who will be competing in the Honda Classic this Friday through Sunday on the Champion Course at Palm Beach Gardens, is a walking persona of the vagaries that are imbedded in the game of golf.

One of his first experiences was one of his worst.

At age 5, he decided he was big enough to drive a golf cart. Bad decision – even for a 5-year-old.

Svensson drove the cart straight into a pond.

Whoops and glub.

And, to make matters worse, Dad’s clubs were strapped to the cart.

Thankfully, Svensson emerged unharmed.

Now, as an adult, Svensson remembers, “I think they brought in a tow cart to get the cart out of the water.” And, most important, Svensson was not afraid to continue playing his favorite game. And, eventually, play it extremely well. And that is the reason he has earned a berth in the Honda Classic beginning today.

Svensson, who grew up in Canada, feels at home playing in South Florida. For three years, he was a standout on the Barry University golf team, winning the national Phil Mickelson Award as a freshman. After that, in 2013 and 2014, he was named the Jack Nicklaus Player of the Year.

That success led him to leaving Barry a year early for a pro golf career. A special day for Svensson that he still remembers is August 19, 2018. That’s the day Svensson, at age 24, became the first player in Barry history to earn his PGA Tour card. With a big smile on his face he was joining Tiger, Phil, Justin and Rory among others.

Now, at age 29, he has pocketed just under $2 million on the PGA Tour.

“Golf is so up and down,” Svensson has said. “To me, success is playing well week-in and week-out, making the cut and finishing in the top 20, top 25.”

Just a week ago Svensson played in the Genesis Tournament, competing against Tiger Woods in that event and finishing in a tie for ninth along with Jason Day and Gary Woodland.

That sets the stage for his return to South Florida in the Honda this week.

Just being at the Honda shows that Svensson – and his golf game -- have come a long, long way since sinking that golf cart into a pond a long, long time ago.

Svensson, obviously, has survived his traumatic introduction to golf and is doing just fine.

THE HONDA CLASSIC

When: Thursday through Sunday.

Where: Palm Beach Gardens, PGA National Resort & Spa (Champion Course).

Defending Champion: Sepp Straka.

History: Founded in 1972 (known then as the Jackson Gleason Inverrary Classic).

Purse for this year’s event: $8,400,00 total; winner receives $1,512,00.

Television: Thursday – 2-6 p.m. Golf Channel; Friday – 2-6 p.m. Golf Channel; Saturday – 1-3 p.m. Golf Channel, 3-6 p.m. NBC; Sunday – 1-3 p.m. Golf Channel; 3-6 p.m. NBC.