Now healthy, Blake Adams quietly making his mark

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Blake Adams finish tied for second at the HP Byron Nelson for his best finish of the season.

Jordan Spieth wasn't the only one to introduce himself to golf fans at the HP Byron Nelson Championship.

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Byron Nelson Wrap-up
Leaderboard: Scores
Scorecard: Adams

Say hello to Blake Adams, a 34-year-old Georgian who came within one errant swing of winning his first PGA TOUR event. Adams was barely noticed because of the amazing performance of the 16-year-old Spieth (who contended in his first PGA TOUR event before finishing tied for 16th), but his story is just as remarkable.

Adams didn't turn pro until he was 25 -- that's three years older than Nelson winner Jason Day -- and didn't advance to the Nationwide Tour until he was 31 and hadn't played on the PGA TOUR until this season.

That's not the only reason why Adams feels like an old man. He's spent most of his life beating up his body while playing -- and usually excelling at -- basketball, baseball and football before injuries forced him to settle on the less violent sport of golf.

"I wake up like I'm 80," Adams said. "Every morning when I'm at home or if my wife is out here she says, 'Gosh, what will you be like when you're 60?' because I creak and crack."

Ask Adams to list his ailments, and you better be patient. It's going to take a while.

"I've had a bulging disk in my back that hampered me forever and forever. Two Octobers ago, I was told I need hip-replacement surgery. I've got arthritis of a 60-year-old, three bone spurs, and a cyst; all the collagen is worn out in my left hip," Adams said, before pausing. "So pretty healthy."

His game didn't look too sick at the Nelson. He opened with rounds of 66 and 64 to share the 36-hole lead, and remained in contention until he rinsed his approach shot while hitting out of the trees at the 72nd hole, leading to a double bogey that assured Day his first title. While the bad finish dropped Adams into a three-way tie for second place with Brian Gay and Jeff Overton -- costing him about $217,000 had he finished second alone -- the career-best payday of $485,333 virtually assures Adams will keep his card for the 2011 season.

"It was a great week, and I learned a lot about myself," said Adams, who moved from 116th to 53rd in the FedExCup standings. "I was in the last group the last two days, but I wasn't nervous; I just didn't play well. I was really pleasantly pleased with how my emotions were. [I'll] learn from it and move on. Hats off to Jason Day and I'll try again next week."

No, Adams won't stop trying. He's already proven that.

In late 2007, Adams was told by doctors he needed to replace his left hip. But several other doctors said he might be able to avoid surgery if he went through a rigorous rehabilitation program.

So twice a week for three months, he would make the 3 1/2-hour drive from his home in Nunez, Ga., to Atlanta where he would spend the day working out alongside players preparing for the NFL combine. He would leave early in the morning and get home around midnight. All he had on the line was his golf career.

"It was all or nothing there," Adams said. "I knew this was pretty serious. I had a bulging disk and my shoulder hurts and all that stuff, but I mean, when I can't turn on my left hip, golf is hard to play."

The hard work paid off. He didn't play in his first Nationwide Tour event in 2008 until April, but finished 11th in his first start and third two weeks later. Adams was finally healthy for a full season last year, and he took advantage by finishing third on the Nationwide's money list ($399,749). That was a record for the most money won on that tour without a victory but, more importantly, it earned him a spot on the PGA TOUR this year.

For most golfers, making it to the PGA TOUR is the hardest challenge they face in their careers. For Adams, it was simply being healthy enough to swing a club.

"It's been hard because obviously I've had success in everything that I've always done sports-wise, and to be held back from an injury versus just being held back because you're not good enough, that's kinda hard to swallow," he said. "But I've always believed in myself. I knew if I could stay healthy that I could do things."

Adams wore an all-black outfit Sunday, which he does in every final round as a tribute to his father, who passed away on Easter Sunday in 2004, the same day Phil Mickelson won his first Masters. Adams says he wears the black to remind him of his father during good times and bad times.

He didn't get to lift a trophy to honor his father Sunday, but Adams' mood wasn't black afterward.

"I'm playing golf for a living, so there could be worse things going on," Adams said. "If all I ever have to worry about is making a putt or missing a putt, I'm doing OK."

Craig Dolch is a freelance columnist for PGATOUR.COM. His views do not necessarily represent the views of the PGA TOUR.