Punta Cana, Dominican Republic – Graeme McDowell shot a final-round 69 to claim victory at the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship.

After opening with a 73, the Northern Irishman strung together back-to-back scores of 64 to sit atop the leaderboard after 54 holes on the Tom Fazio-designed track.

McDowell’s final-day scorecard included five birdies against two bogeys to reach 18-under par, one clear of co-runners-up Mackenzie Hughes and Chris Stroud.

The win was McDowell’s fourth career Tour title, and first since the 2015 Mayakoba Golf Classic. While the win doesn’t clinch an Open invite at McDowell’s home course at Port Rush, it goes a long way.

“We’ve got The Open Championship at Portrush, which is obviously on my radar,” said McDowell. “This will free me up a lot to be able to play the schedule between now and July that I want to play that’s going to help me achieve my goals.”

Final: Top-5 Earners

Pos-Player-(To Par, Final Rd) (Money)
1. Graeme McDowell (-18, -3) ($540k)
2. Mackenzie Hughes (-17, -6) ($264k)
2. Chris Stroud (-17, -3) ($264k)
4. Jonathan Byrd (-16, -6) ($144k)
5. Chip McDaniel (-15, -9) ($114k)
5. Kelly Kraft (-15, -4) ($114k)

McDowell By The Numbers

Money Earned: $540,000
Points: 300 FedExCup / 24 OWGR
Driving: 286 yards (52nd)
Fairways: 73.2% (31st)
Greens: 72.2% (16th)
Putting/GIR: 1.519 (1st)
Scores: 27 Birdies, 37 Pars, 7 Bogeys, 1 Double

Quotable

Long Time Coming

Yeah, don’t make me cry. Yeah, this is big, this is big. The people that stood by me, my sponsors, Srixon, RBC, MasterCard, Wheels Up, people like that that stood by me the last few years because it’s been a rough few years, you know. Kenny (his caddie), who’s been at my side for the last 13 years, it’s been a grind. My whole family, my wife, my kids at home. It’s been some rough years.”
– Graeme McDowell