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Graeme McDowell hits final rou...

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Graeme McDowell hits final round 64 for share of fourth in Hawaii


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Graeme McDowell has finished strongly at the Sony Open in Hawaii on the P-G-A Tour to finish in a three-way tie for fourth position.

The Portrush golfer shot a final round of 64 at the par 70 course to finish on 9-under overall.

Australian Cameron Smith beat American Brendan Steele in a play-off after both players had finished on eleven under par.

McDowell hit 11 of 18 greens in regulation during his final round, finishing fourth alongside Kevin Kisner and Ryan Palmer.

Webb Simpson came in third on 10-under, a shot behind Smith and Steele, who fought it out in the play-off.

Eventual champion Smith was four-over through his first two holes for the tournament but turned things around drastically. The 26-year-old had offered to donate $500 for every birdie and $1000 for every eagle he made in the tournament to bush fire relief efforts in his native Australia.

Smith said that incentive made every solid hole all the more special.

“Every birdie putt I had, just meant that little bit more. Rather than kind of wanting to make it I almost felt like I had to make it.

"I've always been quite good at not giving up. I've never felt the need to kind of mentally check out in any way. It was a big fight all week basically.

“Just having to make the putts, feeling like something else is on the line, I think I drew a little bit from the Presidents Cup,” Smith said. “I felt as though I played some of my best golf that week, and with such little time between these events I think that's kind of rolled over definitely into this week.”

Open champion Shane Lowry also shot a final round of 64 over the weekend to finish second at the Hong Kong Open.

The Offaly man hit five birdies and an eagle in his final round, dropping just one shot in what was the best round of day four.

Lowry will next attempt to defend his title at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, which he won in dramatic fashion last year.


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Golf Graeme McDowell Hawaii Off The Ball PGA Tour Shane Lowry Sony Open

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