Blake Adams
Encyclopedia
Blake Adams is an American professional golfer
currently playing on the PGA Tour
.
, Oklahoma
, but only lived there for six months. His family moved to Dalton
, Georgia
, were he lived until he was sixteen years old. After his mother re-married, he moved to Eatonton
and graduated from Gatewood Academy
, and enrolled at the University of Georgia
in Athens
.
in Statesboro
. He earned a bachelor's degree
in sociology
in 2001 and turned professional later that year.
in 2007
. In his first full season in 2007, Adams made only 5 of 16 cuts and earned just $23,270.
In 2008
, he made 7 of 11 cuts, playing a limited schedule. He had one top 10, earned $63,701, and obtained his full time Nationwide Tour card for 2009.
Adams had a breakout year in 2009
, with seven top-10s between May and August, including a career high finish of solo second place in Canada at the Ford Wayne Gretzky Classic
. In September, he led the Boise Open
by four shots after three rounds, but finished again in solo second by a stroke, earning $78,500. Adams earned $399,749 in 2009 and finished third on the Nationwide money list. He shattered the Nationwide Tour's record for single season earnings without a victory; his successful 2009 season secured him a promotion to the PGA Tour
for the 2010
season.
in May 2010; he finished in a three-way tie for second by two strokes, albeit following a disappointing double bogey on the 72nd hole. This result earned him $485,333 and put his winnings over $820,000 for the season, which moved him from 118th to 47th on the 2010 money list, and secured his PGA Tour playing privileges for 2011.
Adams, along with a few other PGA Tour hopefuls, was featured on a NBC
special "Ticket to the Tour", which aired on January 2. Adams hosted the weekly "Inside the PGA Tour" on January 12 and was featured in the March 2010 issue of Men's Journal
magazine.
, Georgia
, a small town with a population of less than 200 in Emanuel County
.
Professional golfer
In golf the distinction between amateurs and professionals is rigorously maintained. An amateur who breaches the rules of amateur status may lose his or her amateur status. A golfer who has lost his or her amateur status may not play in amateur competitions until amateur status has been reinstated;...
currently playing on the PGA Tour
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
.
Background and family
Adams was born in BartlesvilleBartlesville, Oklahoma
Bartlesville is a city in Osage and Washington counties in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The population was 43,070 at the 2010 census. Bartlesville is located forty-seven miles north of Tulsa and very close to Oklahoma's northern border with Kansas. It is the county seat of Washington County, in...
, Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, but only lived there for six months. His family moved to Dalton
Dalton, Georgia
Dalton is a city in Whitfield County, Georgia, United States. It is the county seat of Whitfield County and the principal city of the Dalton, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of both Murray and Whitfield counties. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 33,128...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, were he lived until he was sixteen years old. After his mother re-married, he moved to Eatonton
Eatonton, Georgia
Eatonton is a city in Putnam County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 6,480. The city is the county seat of Putnam County. It was named after William Eaton, an officer and diplomat involved in the First Barbary War...
and graduated from Gatewood Academy
Putnam County, Georgia
Putnam County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 18,812. The 2007 Census Estimate showed a population of 21,251...
, and enrolled at the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
in Athens
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
.
College career
Adams spent three years at Georgia then transferred to Georgia Southern UniversityGeorgia Southern University
Georgia Southern University is a national public university located on a campus in Statesboro, Georgia, USA. Founded in 1906, it is part of the University System of Georgia and is the largest center of higher education in the southern half of Georgia offering 117 academic majors in a comprehensive...
in Statesboro
Statesboro, Georgia
Statesboro is a city in southeast Georgia, United States, and is the county seat and most populous city of Bulloch County. Statesboro has a population of 28,422 and the Statesboro, GA Micropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 70,217...
. He earned a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
in 2001 and turned professional later that year.
Nationwide Tour (2007-09)
Injuries have plagued Adams throughout his career and he bounced around on the mini-tours until he joined the Nationwide TourNationwide Tour
The Nationwide Tour is the developmental tour for the U.S.-based PGA Tour, and features professional golfers who have either failed to score well enough at that level's Qualifying School to earn their PGA Tour card, or who have done so but then failed to win enough money to stay at that level...
in 2007
2007 Nationwide Tour
The 2007 Nationwide Tour season ran from January 25 to November 4. The season consisted of 32 official money golf tournaments; three of which were played outside of the United States. The top 25 players on the year-end money list earned their PGA Tour card for 2008. Nick Flanagan earned his PGA...
. In his first full season in 2007, Adams made only 5 of 16 cuts and earned just $23,270.
In 2008
2008 Nationwide Tour
The 2008 Nationwide Tour season ran from January 24 to November 9. The season consisted of 30 official money golf tournaments; five of which were played outside of the United States...
, he made 7 of 11 cuts, playing a limited schedule. He had one top 10, earned $63,701, and obtained his full time Nationwide Tour card for 2009.
Adams had a breakout year in 2009
2009 Nationwide Tour
The 2009 Nationwide Tour was the 20th Nationwide Tour season. It ran from February 5 to October 25. The season consisted of 29 official money golf tournaments; six of which were played outside of the United States. The top 25 players on the year-end money list earned their PGA Tour card for 2010.-...
, with seven top-10s between May and August, including a career high finish of solo second place in Canada at the Ford Wayne Gretzky Classic
Ford Wayne Gretzky Classic
The Ford Wayne Gretzky Classic presented by Samsung was a golf tournament on the Nationwide Tour from 2008 to 2010. It was played at the Georgian Bay Club in Clarksburg and the Raven Golf Club at Lora Bay in Thornbury, Ontario, Canada....
. In September, he led the Boise Open
Albertsons Boise Open
The Albertsons Boise Open presented by Kraft is a professional golf tournament on the Nationwide Tour, played annually in mid-September at Hillcrest Country Club in Boise, Idaho. In 2011, the 22nd Boise Open was held September 15-18 and won by Jason Kokrak by two strokes.Albertsons, a major...
by four shots after three rounds, but finished again in solo second by a stroke, earning $78,500. Adams earned $399,749 in 2009 and finished third on the Nationwide money list. He shattered the Nationwide Tour's record for single season earnings without a victory; his successful 2009 season secured him a promotion to the PGA Tour
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
for the 2010
2010 PGA Tour
The 2010 PGA Tour season ran from January 7 to November 14. The season consisted of 46 official money events. This included four major championships and three World Golf Championships, which are also sanctioned by the European Tour.-Schedule:...
season.
PGA Tour (2010- )
After a top-10 finish in February at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, Adams' first notable success came at the HP Byron Nelson Championship in TexasTexas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
in May 2010; he finished in a three-way tie for second by two strokes, albeit following a disappointing double bogey on the 72nd hole. This result earned him $485,333 and put his winnings over $820,000 for the season, which moved him from 118th to 47th on the 2010 money list, and secured his PGA Tour playing privileges for 2011.
Adams, along with a few other PGA Tour hopefuls, was featured on a NBC
NBC Sports
NBC Sports is the sports division of the NBC television network. Formerly "a service of NBC News," it broadcasts a diverse array of programs, including the Olympic Games, the NFL, the NHL, MLS, Notre Dame football, the PGA Tour, the Triple Crown, and the French Open, among others...
special "Ticket to the Tour", which aired on January 2. Adams hosted the weekly "Inside the PGA Tour" on January 12 and was featured in the March 2010 issue of Men's Journal
Men's Journal
Men's Journal is an American men's lifestyle magazine focused on outdoor recreation and comprising editorials on the outdoors, environmental issues, health and fitness, style and fashion, and "gear". It is owned by Jann Wenner of Wenner Media....
magazine.
Personal life
Adams lives in NunezNunez, Georgia
Nunez is a town in Emanuel County, Georgia, United States. The population was 131 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Nunez is located at ....
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, a small town with a population of less than 200 in Emanuel County
Emanuel County, Georgia
Emanuel County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 21,837. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 22,469. The county seat is Swainsboro.-History:...
.