Graeme McDowell looks certain to drop outside the World’s Top 50 for a first time in more than five years after missing the halfway cut in the double defence of his French Open title.
McDowell struggled not only with the driver but also the shortest club in his bag posting scores of 72 and 78 for a shock seven over par tally in continuing heatwave conditions on the Le National course on the outskirts of Versailles.
It is only a third occasion in his 10 European Tour victories McDowell has not played all four rounds in the defence of a Tour title.
The trio of former winner Martin Kaymer (69), Spain’s Rafa Cabrera-Bello (70) and local hero Victor Dubuisson (70), competing for a first time in France since last year’s Ryder Cup, share first place on just four under par in sauna-like conditions on the 2018 Ryder Cup host venue.
Grame McDowell insists there is no alarm bells ringing after missing the cut in the double defence of his French Open title. (Photo – www.golftourmiss.com.com)
Damien McGrane finds himself the leading Irishman posting a 70 to be at one over par and with Michael Hoey (73) at three over par the only Irish to make the fut in the Euro 3m event.
McDowell and his family are leaving Paris this morning (SAT) bound for Edinburgh and Thursday’s starting Scottish Open at Gullane that neighbours Muirfield just to the east of the Scottish capital.
However the current World No. 48th ranked McDowell will tee-up sure to be outside the elite world’s top-50 for a first time since May 2010 when he dropped to No. 51st in the world with a share of 26th place in the Players Championship.
“It’s very disappointing and I just struggled to get it on the fairways these two days and it’s tough out there as that was reflected in the scoring with not many guys going any lower than three or four under par,” he said.
“So when you are not playing well it’s going to beat you up and as such I struggled to get it close to the flag, and also no birdies today which is never going to work.
“I didn’t do bumbles wrong the first 13 holes but then paid the ultimate penalty taking a double at the second or my 11th when I put it in the water but then that’s golf and these things happen.
“But then this week was not about trying to win three French Open’s in a row for me as it was more about as it was all about where my game is at right now and trying to compete.
“I am aware my season is not going the way I want it to go and just need a couple of good weeks, and I don’t care what those weeks are but there is a lot of technique in my mind and I have to strip that out and get back to basics.”
That will mean McDowell spending time next week with long-time coach, Peter Cowen after also admitting he’s been ‘by myself’ in recent weeks.
“I am working with probably one of the best coaches in the world in Pete Cowen and I probably know a little bit too much, and it’s very hard to un-know something,” said McDowell.
“It means stripping all the technical stuff out of my mind and get back to basics, and also catch-up with Pete next week as I have been chiseling away by myself the last few weeks.
“So I’m off to Scotland tomorrow for an early practice round at Gullane and it’s not as though any alarm bells are ringing because I want to stress they’re not.”
It’s comforting for McDowell he returns to the Scottish Open a former winner while he’s showed good form on the Old Course having been runner-up after a play-off for the 2004 Alfred Dunhill Links while he was 11th behind Tiger Woods in the 2005 Open also at St. Andrews.
“The good thing is that for the next two weeks the golf course is going to play similar to this course here in Versailles because at both Gullane and St. Andrews if you are slightly off with your game it is going to beat you up,” added McDowell.
“So I am leaving France not reading too much into this 78 and looking for more of a straight forward test at Gullane and get myself ready for The Open.
“My wife and daughter also are heading back to Orlando on Tuesday so that will see my full attention directed on these next two weeks.”
For the purists, McDowell averaged 7.5 of the 28 fairways and 30.5 putts for the two rounds.
