Pages

Monday, October 13, 2014

Swafford Places Eighth In Frys.com Open

Hudson Swafford, right, and his caddie follow his drive from the 14th tee on Sunday in the Frys.com Open.
The 2014-15 PGA Tour season is underway and Hudson Swafford already has a top-10 finish.

Swafford came in eighth at 11-under, just four shots off the pace, at the season-opening Frys.com Open at Silverado Country Club in Napa, Calif. Swafford put himself in contention Sunday with a 5-under tally of 67, which tied for low round of the day. On the front nine, he made three birdies and closed with a 20-foot eagle putt on the par-5 ninth.

Afterward, Swafford was asked how much more relaxed he feels with a good finish to start the season.

“Not so much relaxed; it's a confidence builder, really,” he said. “We are going into a three‑week stretch, and I like playing three weeks in a row. I feel like some of my best golf comes actually in the second week, so to start hitting the ball really well on Sunday and get myself in contention was good. I think my game handled it pretty well. It tested every bit of it this week. I’m just looking forward to the next couple weeks.”

Kevin Kisner came in 21st at 7-under, Erik Compton placed 46th at 3-under and Harris English missed the cut.

• Next up is the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas. Swafford, Kisner, Compton and English are slated to participate.

• The Bulldogs will be back in action Sunday through Tuesday in the Tavistock Collegiate Invitational (formerly the Isleworth Collegiate Invitational) in Lake Nona, Fla. Check back later this week for the lineup and more details on the tournament.

• In Southhampton, Bermuda, U.S. Open champion Martin Kaymer won the PGA Grand Slam of Golf in a one-hole playoff over Masters champion Bubba Watson.

Kaymer won on the first playoff hole at Port Royal by making a 10-foot birdie and then watching Watson miss his birdie putt from four feet.

"I was surprised that he missed it," Kaymer said. "Obviously, you don't want to win a golf tournament that way, but I'll take it."

Said Watson, "I hit great putts. They just didn't want to go in this week. That's how golf is sometimes."