Graeme McDowell insists he has no fears heading to next fortnight’s Masters, and in fact will now enter next week’s Shell Houston Open after a lower left ankle injury forced him to withdraw after nine holes of today’s starting Valero Texas Open.
McDowell was five over par at the time when he advised playing partners Dustin Johnson and Jim Furyk he could no longer continue in the $US 6.3m event being played in bright but windy conditions on the TPC San Antonio course.
The former U.S. Open champion said he strained tendons in his left ankle while practicing earlier in the week and had thought of withdrawing from Wednesday’s Pro-Am.
However with the ankle heavily strapped and along with pain-killers and anti-inflamatories, McDowell completed the long five-and-a-hour event ending into the early evening.
In fact, the pain was so intense in McDowell’s ankle he sought the assistance of a doctor on the 10th tee during the Pro-Am who was seen to inject some form of pain-killer into McDowell’s ankle.
McDowell then sought overnight treatment on the ankle and again prior to tee off before advising playing partners Dustin Johnson and Jim Furyk he could no longer continue.
Graeme McDowell with his manager Colm Morrissey (purple top) after withdrawing from the 2015 Valero Texas Open. (Photo – James Haddock/SKY Sports)
Accompanied by his caddy Ken Comboy, McDowell was conveyed by motorised buggy to the TPC San Antonio clubhouse where he clearned out his locker, thanked tTour staff and was heading straight for nearby San Antonio Airport and a return flight to Orlando.
“It’s very disappointing but then in the bigger picture I have to think about the Masters in a fortnight’s time,” he said.
“It’s just a little bit of a fatigue injury from practicing this week and something new I had been trying in my game with regards to my follow through.
“I very nearly pulled out of the Pro-Am yesterday but then there’s nothing structurally wrong with my ankle and it’s just that I pulled a tendon down the left side of shin and calf area.
“So there was just no point in beating myself up so that’s why I informed Dustin and Jim I could no go on.
“I was not entered into next week’s Shell Houston Open but I have now altered those plans so I am heading home to give the ankle a rest and then head to Houston early next week.
“While it was not in my schedule, I will use the Houston Open to get myself ready for Augusta.
“So withdrawing this morning was just precaution more than anything and that’s all you can read into it.”
Despite the toughness of the conditions McDowell was clearly struggling and producing four pars and five bogeys including finding water with his second shot at his ninth or the 18th hole of the course, and a hole so similar to the final hole at Jumeriah Estates and the venue each year for the European Tour season-ending DP World Championship.
McDowell mentioned it was not the first time he has endured a similar injury in his left ankle.
“I’ve had ankle problems in the past and I recall ‘rolling’ my ankle a few times but this was just something that I was really working hard in rotating on my left side,” he said.
“I hit a lot of balls on the range this week and basically I was just asking my left ankle to something a little different.
“Then when I started walking on it during the Pro-Am yesterday it started flaring up.
“I was hoping it would be okay today but it was just getting too uncomfortable and coupled with the tough conditions out there it just felt like a bit of a lost cause out there.”
The withdrawal of McDowell leaves just one Irishman in the field and that being Shane Lowry who was still two-and-a-hours away from teeing off when McDowell left the course.
