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A18 SPORTS
Monday 23 January 2017

Hudson Swafford wins CareerBuilder for 1st PGA Tour title

JOHN NICHOLSON up the 18th,” Hadwin said,
AP Sports Writer “but just to be able to get
LA QUINTA, Calif. (AP) — A up-and-down from the lie
day after making a mess that I had from over there
of the 16th and 17th holes was pretty impressive.”
on PGA West’s Stadium Swafford finished the pro-
Course, Hudson Swafford am event at 20-under 268
birdied them Sunday to and earned $1,044,000.
take control in the fitting- He opened with a 65 at La
ly named CareerBuilder Quinta, shot another 65 on
Challenge. PGA West’s Jack Nicklaus
A few minutes later, with Tournament Course to take
rain approaching the des- the second-round lead,
ert over the snow-capped and fell two strokes behind
mountains, the 29-year-old Hadwin with a 71 on Satur-
former Georgia player cel- day at the Stadium layout.
ebrated his breakthrough Swafford got off to a rough
first PGA Tour title and first start in the final round in the
Masters spot. chilly morning, three-put-
“They don’t give them ting for bogey on the par-
away out here. It’s not 4 first, and was five strokes
easy,” Swafford said. “I’ve behind leader Chad
been close. I’ve been in Campbell after five holes.
the heat lately. Just keep The winner rallied with bird-
putting myself in position, ies on Nos. 7-9 to join Camp-
and this just feels unbeliev- bell and Hadwin atop the
able.” Hudson Swafford poses with the trophy after winning the CareerBuilder Challenge golf tournament leaderboard. On the par-
He tapped in for par on 18 at 20-under parr on the Stadium Course at PGA West, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, in La Quinta, Calif. 5 eighth, Swafford cut a
for a 5-under 67 and a one- Associated Press 5-wood into the middle of
stroke victory over Adam Swafford tied Bud Cauley shots.” On the par-5 16th, par-3 17th, a day after the green and lipped out
Hadwin, the Canadian for the lead with a 12-foot he hit a 4-iron 230 yards to barely clearing the giant for eagle.
who had trouble scoring birdie putt on the par-4 12 feet — staying out of the rocks that ring the island “The game just felt com-
after a third-round 59 at La 15th, and pulled ahead 18-foot deep bunker he hit green called Alcatraz. “It fortable from there on,”
Quinta Country Club. with the birdies on 16 and into Saturday en route to a was just choke up and Swafford said. “I just felt like
“I can’t help but be slight- 17 — a day after dropping double bogey — and two- swing an 8-iron and it end- I could hit any shot where
ly disappointed,” Hadwin three strokes on the daunt- putted to take the outright ed up being perfect,” he I wanted to and just felt in
said after a 70. “I really ing duo. lead. “Just trying to maybe said. total control.”
wanted to come out here “Stepped up there and chase it up on the front Hadwin also birdied 16 and Cauley and Brian Harman
and kind of prove that yes- hit some really good shots edge, and it was probably 17, making a 25-footer on each shot 69 to tie for third
terday was just kind of a on those two holes, know- my best swing of the day,” 17 after Swafford tapped at 18 under.
continuation of some good ing what happened yes- Swafford said. “It was just in. Campbell holed out from
play and kind of get it done terday,” Swafford said. “I right out of the middle, flew Swafford found the fairway 108 yards for eagle on the
today, but I got beat. I felt was just really confident on the green. I thought it with a 3-wood on the par- par-5 fifth, then made a
like I did all the right things. on those two holes today. was actually even going to 4 18th with water along the triple bogey on the par-3
Just a couple shots here I knew the bad stuff on get closer than it did. But left side, then avoided the sixth — hitting into the wa-
and there and who knows those holes were gone. I after what happened yes- water again with an ap- ter and three-putting. He
what could have hap- had already seen it, it had terday, I was really satisfied proach to the right side of finished with a 71 to tie for
pened. But an incredible already happened, and with that.” the green. He lagged his sixth at 16 under.
week, my best finish ever.” just visualizing really good He hit to 1 1/2 feet on the 20-footer to 2 inches. Phil Mickelson shot a 70
Hadwin’s final drive settled to tie for a 21st at 11 un-
in the dormant Bermuda der in the 46-year-old Hall
an inch from the green rye of Famer’s return from
rough and his approach two sports hernia surgeries.
stayed right and settled “I think this was a good start
into a bad lie in the thick for me for the year,” Mick-
dormant rough. He saved elson said. “The only way to
par to finish second alone. find out where your game is
“I would have loved to at is to play in competition.
have put a little bit more ... I’m much further along
pressure on Hud coming than I thought I would
be.”q