Home News McDowell Heads To 6-Week Break After Holing 25-Foot Shootout Birdie Putt.

McDowell Heads To 6-Week Break After Holing 25-Foot Shootout Birdie Putt.

9 years ago by Bernie McGuire Comments Off

Graeme McDowell headed to a well-deserved six-week break having holed a 25-foot birdie putt on the final hole on his closing event of 2015 at the Greg Norman hosted Franklin Templeton Shootout in Naples.

McDowell had hit an 8-iron into the green and with his ball disappearing into the cup for a last time in 2014 right on 5pm local time to hand he and playing partner Gary Woodland a share of fifth place in the 12-team event played on the Tiburon Golf Club course.

Caddy Ken Comboy watches over Graeme McDowell as he signs his card for the last time in 2014. PGA Tour recorder ‘Montana’ and former caddy to Billy Mayfair checks the figures. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)

It left the close Lake Nona neighbours trailing four shots behind the winning duo of Australia’s Jason Day and his California-born partner Cameron Tringale.

It was Day’s second team event success in just over a year since he joined Adam Scott in delivering Australia victory in the 2013 World Cup of Golf, and it was also the 27-year Ohio-based Aussie’s second win this year after capturing the WGC – Accenture Match-Play Championship.

Tringale broke through for his first victory on the PGA Tour in a sanctioned event worth $385,000 each to the winning pair.

McDowell and Woodland’s reward was a cheque each for $95,000 and aside from McDowell’s look of embarrassment when his putt dropped at the last it was overall a disappointing three days on the greens for the pair.

“We didn’t putt well this week and it could up with us today,” he said.

“But it was a great week and it was great to play with one of best friends because I’m sure we’ll get a couple of social games in at Lake Nona over the festive break.”

And McDowell refused to single out Woodland’s ailing back as excuse for the duo letting slip second place heading into the final day but ending the event tied with Jerry Kelly and Steve Stricker in fifth.

“No, that’s not an excuse and as I mentioned it was just the short sticks that weren’t working well these last couple of days,” he said.

McDowell along with fellow US Open Champion Retief Goosen was then headed to nearby Naples Airport to board a charter jet and the short flight back to Orlando.

“It’s one of those flights that doesn’t leave to you arrive, so it’s the best airline in the world,” he said smiling.

“So I’m looking forward getting home and taking some quality time off. It will be our first Christmas together as a family so I’m looking forward to that but really I haven’t got that much planned.

“There’s no travelling, no nothing and just home with the family. It will be all about re-charging the batteries and try not to get drunk too much over the festive break (smiling).”

McDowell will commence his 2015 season and his 14th year on tour at the January 29th starting Omega Dubai Desert Classic while it was announced recently he will be staring at the following week’s Maybank Malaysian Open since finishing T17th in 2008.

AND before leaving the course McDowell delighted a nine-year old fan who went away with McDowell’s cap. McDowell had asked how old she way and the young girl responded: “Guess?” McDowell said seven but it was two years out. (See photos).