Swafford holds nerve to win the Corales Puntacana

Hudson Swafford recovered from a back-nine meltdown to roll in a nervy 10-foot par putt at the final hole and secure a one-shot victory over Tyler McCumber at the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship in the Dominican Republic.

What looked like a runaway victory, as Swafford pulled four clear of the pack with six holes to play, turned into a nail-biter that came down to the last putt with the 33-year-old American carding a final-round three-under 69 for a winning total of 18-under 270 to claim his second career win.

“Last two years have been tough,” said Swafford, who has struggled with a foot injury. “Life’s great and golf was really hard, and to do this, it’s fun. This is why I get up and grind.”

McCumber put the pressure on with an error-free final round of six-under 66 highlighted by a birdie at the 18th while Canadian Mackenzie Hughes had a two-under 70 to finish one shot adrift in third.

Life’s great and golf was really hard, and to do this, it’s fun.

Hudson Swafford

Swafford began the day two strokes back of overnight leader Adam Long but raced four shots in front with an eagle and three birdies on his outward nine.

Then with six holes to play, Swafford’s round began to crumble as a double-bogey at the 13th and a bogey at 15th wiped out his advantage with Hughes and McCumber joining him at the top of the leaderboard.

Swafford would pull out of the tailspin with a birdie at the 17th to walk to the 18th tee having regained a one-shot lead.

Ahead of him Hughes had bogeyed at the last hole to fall out of contention while McCumber was in the clubhouse at 17-under waiting for a Swafford slip-up to send the contest to a playoff.

That looked a real possibility when Swafford left himself a long par putt but he held his nerve to clinch the title.

“I just hit it solid,” said Swafford about his winning putt. “I’ve been putting beautifully all week, hitting a lot of good putts.” — Reuters