Given a second chance to win th OHL Classic at Mayakoba, Norther Ireland's Graeme McDowell took dead aim and did not falter. Describing his final approach as one of the best 5-irons he has ever
hit, McDowell carved a shot from 215 yards to within 3 feet on the first
playoff hole. The subsequent putt gave him a victory over Russell Knox
and Jason Bohn, his first PGA Tour win in nearly three years and a much-needed highlight to end what has been an otherwise disastrous year inside the ropes. McDowell entered this week at No. 85 in the world rankings, 70 spots
below where he stood in January.
His exempt status that dates back to
his win at the 2010 U.S. Open was set to expire at the end of this
season, and he was facing the prospect of missing the Masters for the
first time since 2008. Thanks to one final birdie, McDowell can now book trips to Kapalua
and Augusta National next year, and his PGA Tour credential is good
until 2018. McDowell said his focus shifted this year to his wife and 1-year-old
daughter, a welcome change but one that admittedly took a toll on his
game. Without a win since the 2013 RBC Heritage, the 36-year-old found himself in the midst of a candid self-examination. “There were multiple times during the year where I was losing belief
in myself, where you’re asking yourself questions like, ‘Am I good
enough anymore? Am I finished with this game? Do I have long left?’
Questions like that,” McDowell said. “When you’re out there for five and
a half hours on the golf course and not playing well, these are the
types of questions you ask yourself. What lies ahead for GMac in the coming 2015-2016 wrap-around season? Share your comments with the Pro Golf Tour.
No comments:
Post a Comment