Phoenix Open: Hudson Swafford Hits Putt Into Water

Thursday was an interesting day for Hudson Swafford at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. His day was highlighted by a wild, four-hole stretch late in his round.

Swafford’s day started very quietly. In fact, his entire front nine was rather bland. He had eight pars on the front side to go along with a bogey on the second hole. He shot a 1-over par 37 on his first nine holes.

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On the back nine, the roller coaster got going for Swafford. It started with a bogey on the 10th hole. He then parred the 11th hole before another bogey on the 12th hole. Swafford would par the 13th hole to stay at 3-over par.

Then, on the 14th hole, the real adventure began for Swafford. Playing the par four, Swafford hit his drive into the left rough. He pulled his second shot into the native area, about 40 yards from the hole. From there, he hit into the greenside bunker with his third shot. His fourth, from the bunker, flew over the green, but did land in short grass. His fifth shot got him onto the green, about 15 feet from the hole. He missed the putt and settled for a triple-bogey seven.

Swafford rebounded immediately on the par-5 15th hole. His drive was a 333-yard beauty that landed in the left fairway. His second shot settled on the green, about 45 feet from the hole. And, wouldn’t you know it, he rolled in the long putt for an eagle three. That got him back to 4-over on his round.

On the par-3 16th hole, Swafford hit his tee shot in the left rough. After a drop, he pitched to within five feet of the hole and he made the putt for a par three.

Then on the par-4 17th hole, Swafford did something you don’t see very often. He drove the green, but was about 100 feet from the pin, which was on the back of the green. Swafford putted his second shot and gave it a little too much gas, running it off the back of the green and into the water. It’s not often that a PGA Tour player putts into the water.

After a drop, his fourth shot got him within six feet, but he missed the putt. He settled for a double-bogey six. His scorecard for those four holes read 7-3-3-6.

Swafford would finish with a 6-over par 78. He’s currently in a tie for 129th place, ahead of just one player. For Swafford, it will always be the round where he putted a ball into the water, and when he made a 7-3-3-6.