Schenk was two tournaments away from having to return to Q-school at No.134 in the FedEx Cup. And then he handled some of the toughest conditions he's faced, making one birdie and four crucial par saves.

The last one was as difficult as any. His approach to the par-4 18th at Port Royal went just over the green as Schenk clung to a one-shot lead. 

He chose putter because of the tight lie, leaving his ball five feet short of the hole.

He gave the winning putt a light touch, relieved when it found the centre of the cup to finish 12-under for the tournament and hold off Chandler Phillip, who also shot 71.

"I've putt for PGA Tour wins so many times in my barn," said Schenk, an Indiana native. "To see one go in is something I'll never forget."

Twice a runner-up in 2023, the year he reached the Tour Championship for the first time, Schenk gets a two-year exemption at a time on the PGA Tour when having full status is critical. 

Only the top 100 in the FedEx Cup — down from 125 — get full status for smaller fields in 2026.

Takumi Kanaya of Japan had a chance to catch Schenk, one shot behind and playing with him in the final group, but caught a back bunker with his approach to the final hole, finishing in a tie for third.

Also third were Max McGreevy, Alex Smalley, Vince Whaley and Frankie Capan.

Kanaya, at No.120 in the FedEx Cup, would have moved to No.83 with a par on the final hole. The miss moved him up only to No.99 and facing more stress next week in the final event.

Phillips was at No.139, and his runner-up finish — the best of his PGA Tour career — moved him to No.92 and should make him safe for a card.

Schenk hit a low point when he missed six straight cuts this summer. He made some tweaks to his game, and decided to putt one-handed to help with his biggest weakness, and thought he was making decent progress without great results.

Now he has a PGA Tour victory, getting him into at least one $20 million signature event next year, along with the PGA Championship and The Players Championship.

This didn't come easily, especially in wind so strong that the tournament moved up the tee times to avoid the worst of it.

Schenk holed those nervy putts on the 12th and 14th holes. He hit onto the side of a hill on the par-3 16th, the scariest par 3 at Port Royal, right up against the ocean with the wind ripping off it. 

He slightly lost his balance on the chip, then beautifully played to three feet for another save.

And then he missed the putt he thought he hit perfectly, the wind moving his birdie attempt on the 17th enough for it to spin out of the cup. 

That would have given him some breathing room. Instead, Schenk had to grind for one last par.

"I knew I could win. It's just a matter of executing each shot and handling each situation I put myself in," Schenk said. "I can't believe it's over. It seems like the longest day ever."