Graeme McDowell is altering not only the start to his New Year European Tour schedule but also changing his early PGA Tour run of events.
For the past two seasons McDowell has commenced a New Year well into February including this year when he kick-started his year at the AT & T Pebble Beach Pro-Am while in 2013 it was at the WGC – Accenture Match-Play Championship in Arizona.
And when he’s teed-up in past years for a first regular European Tour campaign it’s been in Abu Dhabi.
But that is about to change in 2015 with McDowell not to commence what will be his 14th season in the pro ranks until the end of January at the Dubai Desert Classic.
As well, McDowell has added the 2015 Maybank Malaysian Open title to his schedule and it means he will be competing in Malaysia for a first occasion since 2008.
Graeme McDowell relaxing at home but revealing he’ll not commence his 2015 PGA season to the Honda Classic while he will compete in the Valero Texas Open for a first time in his career.
And McDowell will not be seen on the PGA Tour until much later than normal at the February 26th starting Honda Classic at Palm Beach Gardens in Florida.
Then in another first McDowell will enter the March 26th starting Valero Texas Open in San Antonio and two weeks before the Masters. It will be only McDowell’s second tournament appearance in the Lone Star State after competing in the 2012 Shell Houston Open.
“I’ve had one eye on my 2015 schedule for the past couple of months including things I need to do also technically and physically to get myself ready for the New Year,” he said.
“So in many ways while I’m not playing again to the last few days of January I already well on top of 2015 with Dubai a great place to kick start my tournament year while the Malaysian Open will be great physically and mentally.
“I’ll then take two weeks off and great ready for the start of the ‘Florida Swing’ at the Honda Classic.
“And new to my schedule next year will be the Valero Texas Open, so after that event I will have a clear two weeks to prepare for the Masters”.
However tournament golf will the least aspect on McDowell’s mind as he prepares for a first Christmas as a father with wife, Kirsten and four-month old daughter, Vale.
“My main focus over the Christmas period is resting and I’ve got five weeks off with no travelling, no tournaments nothing,” he said.
“I will be at home with the family and basically recharging the batteries and won’t go getting the clubs out of the garage until after Christmas.
“Besides I saw enough good things towards the end of this season to be able to take away a lot of good positives into my off-season.”
