Swafford eagles 16th, wins AmEx for second time in 5 years

LA QUINTA, Calif. (AP) — Hudson Swafford thought of his late father Sunday at PGA West in his second victory in The American Categorical in 5 years.

“I had a pair moments the place I seemed up and knew that he was following and knew that he was there,“ Swafford mentioned. ”I might simply hear his voice saying, ‘Simply be assured in what you’re doing. You’re taking part in nice.’ And he goes, ‘Simply play to win.’”

David Swafford died Dec. 6 at age 83. He gave Hudson his first golf equipment at age 2.

“Probably the greatest folks I do know and he taught me every little thing I do know,” Swafford mentioned. “Methods to be a dad, easy methods to be a buddy, easy methods to be a champion and easy methods to play golf. He’s the one which bought me into golf once I was younger. He gave me each alternative to succeed, however by no means pushed it on me.”

Swafford broke a late tie with an eagle in an 8-under 64 on the Stadium Course. He beat Tom Hoge by two strokes after starting the day three strokes behind rookies Lee Hodges and Paul Barjon.

“I’ve fallen in love with this place,” Swafford mentioned. “That is form of my West Coast residence, truthfully.“

Roger Sloan of Merritt, B.C., shot a 70 and was the highest Canadian at 14 beneath.

He completed forward of Adam Hadwin (68) of Abbotsford, B.C., in twenty fifth, Nick Taylor (68) of Abbotsford in thirty third, Adam Svensson (75) of Surrey, B.C., in forty ninth, and Michael Gligic (72) of Burlington, Ont., in fifty fifth.

Tied for the lead with Brian Harman and Francesco Molinari at 20 beneath, Swafford pulled forward with the eagle on the par-5 sixteenth. From about 200 yards, he hit a 7-iron to eight toes on the enduring gap with massive, deep bunkers lining the left facet.

“A bit down breeze and it was only a excellent 7-iron,” Swafford mentioned. “I knew if I missed it slightly bit it was going to return up simply quick, simply the place you wished to be, and if I hit it good and hit it strong, then I used to be going to have a very good likelihood at eagle.”

Hudson Swafford hits from the third fairway throughout the closing spherical of the American Categorical golf event on the Pete Dye Stadium Course at PGA West, Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022, in La Quinta, Calif.

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Swafford ran in a 20-foot birdie putt on 17, a par-3 gap referred to as Alcatraz with an island inexperienced ringed by jagged rocks. He saved par on the par-4 18th with an 8-footer to wrap up a spot within the Masters.

“Simply knew to maintain my head down and hit one final strong putt and did that and it went proper in,” Swafford mentioned.

The 34-year-old from Tallahassee, Florida, completed at 23-under 265 within the three-course occasion for his third PGA Tour title. He additionally gained within the desert in 2017 and took the 2020 Corales Puntacana Resort & Membership Championship within the Dominican Republic.

“Hud’s an amazing participant and I believe that it simply units up nice for him,” Harman mentioned about his fellow Georgia alum. “Hud’s good wherever. He hits it far and when he will get placing and chipping it good he’s exhausting to beat.”

Hoge shot a 68. He missed an opportunity to win his first title in his 201st begin.

“I’ll take some positives going ahead and hopefully hold taking part in nicely subsequent week at Torrey,” Hoge mentioned.

Hodges, the 26-year-old from Alabama making his 14th PGA Tour begin, shot a 70 to tie for third at 20 beneath with Harman (64) and Lanto Griffin (67).

Molinari, the Italian star who gained the 2018 British Open, bogeyed the 18th for a 68. He tied for sixth with Will Zalatoris (67) and Denny McCarthy (67).

Fourth-ranked Patrick Cantaly, the second-round chief at 14 beneath, adopted at 18 beneath after a 68. The FedEx Cup champion was attempting to win for the third time in his final 4 begins.

Barjon, the Frenchman who performed alongside shut buddy Hodges all 4 days, had a 73 to complete at 17 beneath. He additionally was making his 14th tour begin.

Prime-ranked Jon Rahm, the 2018 winner, was 14 beneath after a 71.

Swafford had six birdies in an eight-hole stretch to take the lead with six holes left. He adopted a three-putt bogey on the par-3 thirteenth with a birdie on the par-4 14th for a two-stroke lead.

However he didn’t make it straightforward, dropping a stroke on the par-4 fifteenth to fall right into a tie with Harman, with Molinari quickly becoming a member of them with a birdie on 16 within the group forward of Swafford.

With the wind gusting within the morning, Swafford opened with a bogey. He bought the stroke again with a birdie on the second, took the lead with the large birdie run and celebrated an emotional victory.

“To get a W whereas he’s pushing me from above, it’s so particular,” Swafford mentioned about his father.

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