Graeme McDowell: PGA Tour win ends & # 039; rough number of years & # 039; for Northern Irish

Graeme McDowell carded five birdies and two bogeys in a closing 69

Graeme McDowell says his victory at the Corales Puntacana Resort and Club Championship ends "a rough few years".

The Northern Irish spent a four-year existence waiting for a victory by shooting a final run 69 to win a one-off victory in the PGA Tour event in the Dominican Republic.

The profit brings McDowell from 257 to the world ranking to come in top 150.

"This is great – great for the people who stood next to me and the sponsors who assisted me. It was a rut, "he said.

"It has been a rough few years, I am really glad I did this."

The former US Open champion ended 18 years, with Canada & Mackenzie Hughes and the American Chris Stroud tying for the second.

McDowell & # 39; s triumph gives him a two-year PGA Tour exemption and guaranteed access to this year's US Open at Pebble Beach, where he won his only jor title in 2010.

] & # 39; Tournament winning shot & # 39; on 17th

The Portrush player, who started the final round with a single branch lead, fell behind Stroud, but while Stroud bogeyed the course – Third 17th, partner McDowell played a beautiful tee shot to six feet and converted the birdie putt before both players bogeyed the 18th.

"I was on the 16th and told myself & # 39; you should do something that is tournament winner & # 39; and that shot to 17 was tournament winning level," said the 39-year-old.

"I struggled all week with my medium-iron and long-iron game and it was a shot that I had been working on the range in recent days

" It was a perfect six- iron for me, it was a perfect number for me and when it came off the bat, I knew it was pretty good. "

The event was contested by players who were not eligible for the WGC Match Play event in Texas, a tournament won by American Kevin Kis ner.