LA QUINTA —
Hudson Swafford gained the American Categorical for the second time in 5 years Sunday, breaking a late tie with an eagle in a closing-round eight-under-par 64.
Swafford beat Tom Hoge by two strokes on PGA West’s Stadium Course after starting the day three strokes behind rookies Lee Hodges and Paul Barjon.
Tied for the lead with fellow former Georgia participant Brian Harman and Francesco Molinari at 20 beneath, Swafford pulled forward with the eagle on the par-five sixteenth. From 198 yards, he hit to eight toes on the long-lasting gap with massive, deep bunkers lining the left aspect.
Swafford then ran in a 20-foot birdie putt on 17, a par-three gap referred to as Alcatraz with an island inexperienced ringed by jagged rocks. He saved par on the par-four 18th with an eight-footer to wrap up a spot within the Masters.
The 34-year-old 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.
Hoge shot a 68. The 32-year-old from Fargo, N.D., missed an opportunity to win his first title in his 201st profession begin.
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.
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-three thirteenth with a birdie on the par-four 14th for a two-stroke lead.
However he didn’t make it simple, dropping a stroke on the par-four 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 acquired the stroke again with a birdie on the second and took the lead with the massive birdie run whereas Hodges, Barjon and different leaders stalled.
High-ranked Jon Rahm, the 2018 winner, was 14 beneath after a 71.
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