Graeme McDowell says he’ll be either dining out on duck or swallowing a dose of despair at this week’s season finale – DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
The Earth Course at Jumeriah Estates hasn’t been McDowell’s greatest friend given he’s failed to break into the top-10 in five prior starts.
But after the disappointment of letting slip victory in his last event in Shanghai McDowell is keen to end his 13th full European Tour season lavishing a decent mouthful of the $US 7m prize money.
“Shanghai didn’t hurt me because I didn’t play and you can’t expect to win when you have not got at least you’re ‘A’ game, so yes I was disappointed in not closing the deal and when level par would have me in a play-off but I just didn’t play well and I couldn’t angry,” he said.
Graeme McDowell suggests it will be either a duck dinner or a dose of Dubai despair this week. (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)
“I’ve got three events left this year including Tiger’s event and then I’m teaming with Gary Woodland to play the Shark Shoot-out, but this is the last real big one for me.
“I will be prepared for Tiger’s event but I’ve come here this week where it’s all duck or no dinner, simple as.”
And if wasn’t for his third place result in the WGC – HSBC Champions McDowell indicated he could have easily stayed home in Orlando with his young family.
“I will be genuinely honest and say I contemplated not being here this week as it was really based on performances in China,” he said.
“That was me being really selfish. I am not going to come to Dubai unless there is a chance of me taking something home from the Bonus Pool.
“So coming to an Earth golf course which is not a happy hunting ground, chasing 13th in the money list is not really going to motivate me.
“Like you say, I’ve got to have a reason to get on a plane. That third place in Shanghai gave me the reason to come here because, third or fourth in the Bonus Pool is achievable. And that’s what I am looking at.”
World No. 1 Rory McIlroy wound up his preparations away from the Earth Course and instead was practicing at the nearby Els Clubs.
And in his absence Henrik Stenson, who is currently second on the money list, was asked if he thought McIlroy would surpass Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 Major triumphs.
“It will be tough to win 14 Majors and go past Tiger, but he could do it, and it would be even tougher to get to 18,” said the Swede.
“The couple years will be crucial for the number of reasons. If Rory can win two a year for the next two or three years, then all of the sudden you are making some good progress.
“But I’m sure in one way that if he would say, if Rory would win one major a year for the next ten years, then he would be close. But it would take some golfing to do it. You can’t just sit here and analyse it. You need to go out here and actually do it.”
And Shane Lowry continues a quest to break into the world’s top-50 in what could be his final event of 2014.
