Swafford right at home in RSM Classic
ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. – Hudson Swafford feels right at home at Sea Island Golf Club.
That hasn’t always been a good thing. Swafford, one of 12 local residents playing in the RSM Classic, has played the Seaside and Plantation courses used for the PGA Tour tournament hundreds of times dating to his college years at Georgia. He could ride a bicycle to the course from his home if he wanted to. He loves the Bermuda greens on the courses. Yet in four starts, he’s missed the cut twice and finished in ties for 12th and 36th.
“A lot of disadvantages,” Swafford said Thursday about playing a home game. “It’s tough, there’s a lot more going on. You’re kind of out of your routine when you’re at home. It’s nice to sleep in your bed, don’t get me wrong. But a lot more friends and family in town, everybody wants to kind of hang out.
“Early in my career here I kind of struggled and I just kind of was consumed with friends and family and try- ing to, you know, hang out with them too much as opposed to just kind of saying no sometimes.”
Well, Swafford’s more comfortable playing a home game these days, and the fifth time might be the charm as he put himself in position to become the first local resident to win the RSM Classic hosted by local World Golf Hall of Fame member Davis Love III. Swafford carded five birdies and an eagle to sign for a 7-under-par 65 on the Plantation Course.
Swafford was two shots behind leader Chris Kirk, who finished with an eagle to cap a bogey-free round of 63. Joel Dahmen came home with a 64 on the Plantation Course. Four other players besides Swafford are at 65: Jason Kokrak and Brian Gay, who played on the Plantation, and Nick Watney and Brice Garnett, who each posted on the par-70 Seaside Course.
“I was kind of frustrated with the golf a little bit. Took a little time off and got back into it. Something just kind of started clicking,” said Swafford, who won this year in the CareerBuilder Challenge in California.
“The golf course is in perfect shape. I just told (his caddie) we need to give ourselves a chance whether it’s 20, 30 feet, or if it’s a perfect number, then let’s go right at it and hit it to a foot. I felt like I was in control of my golf game pretty much all day, felt like I could hit the tee shot that I really wanted, and it felt good out there.”
Kirk has been looking for something to click for some time. The four-time Tour winner hasn’t won since 2015 and hasn’t had a top-10 finish in nearly 13 months. This year he’s struggled with equipment and made a change.
“I’m still trying to get it all worked out and figure out what I want to do going forward, but if I keep shooting 9 under I won’t have to worry about it too much,” Kirk said.
Like Swafford, Kirk feels right at home at Sea Island. He lived here for more than six years. And like Swafford, Kirk is a former Georgia Bulldog. Without an equipment deal, Kirk can wear whatever cap he wants, so the Georgia emblem was front and center on his cap.
“It still feels like home every time I come back,” Kirk said. “The people here are so welcoming and so nice to me, I couldn’t be more comfortable. I’m definitely comfortable here. I wouldn’t say I was expecting to play like I did today, but I’ll take a 9 under whenever I can get it, that’s for sure.”