Swafford ends long drought

Los Angeles – Hudson Swafford (above) finally joined the winner’s circle on Sunday, firing a five-under-par 67 for a one-stroke victory at the PGA Tour’s CareerBuilder Challenge.

The 29-year-old American birdied three of his last four holes to claim his maiden USPGA Tour win in his 93rd Tour start.

“This is a dream come true,” Swafford said. “I really didn’t get ahead of myself, didn’t really look at leaderboards, didn’t really know where I was.”

He compiled a 20-under 268 total to finish one stroke ahead of Canada’s Adam Hadwin, who closed with a 70, one day after storming to a 13-under 59 in the third round at the La Quinta Country Club near Palm Springs.

Bud Cauley and Brian Harman both shot 69s and finished in a tie for third at 18-under 270.

Swafford is in his fourth year on the Tour and had never finished higher than a tie for eighth. In five previous starts this season his best finish was a tie for 13th at last week’s Sony Open.

Beginning the day two shots off the lead, Swafford got off to a rocky start with a bogey at the par-four No 1 before stringing together five straight pars.

Swafford then caught fire with a burst of three straight birdies to close out his front nine.

On the par-four seventh, he hit his approach to five feet from the hole then easily made the short birdie putt.

After making birdie on the parfive eighth, he drained a 14-foot putt for birdie on the par-four ninth. – AFP