Graeme McDowell has not taken lightly his decision to contest week’s Dean & Deluca Invitational in Texas.
McDowell is teeing-up the $US 6.7m event on the Colonial Club course in Fort Worth for a first occasion but it also has meant missing the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.
In fact, McDowell has sat out the BMW PGA just once in the 13 years since he first walked onto the “Burma Road” layout in 2oo3 and that was in 2o14 when his wife, Kristin was giving birth to the couples first child.
However, McDowell desperately needs to build on recent good PGA Tour form ahead of returning to Europe for three, and hopefully, four events in succession that include the French Open, Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, the Scottish Open and looking to qualify for The Open at Royal Birkdale.
Graeme McDowell and caddy Ken Comboy on the first tee at the Colonial Club course in Fort Worth, TX .
“G Mac” is currently lying 1o7th on the FedEx Cup points list on the back three top-2os and making the cut in all but one of 1o events Stateside in 2o17.
He and long-time caddy, Ken Comboy got their first look at the Colonial Club course late on Tuesday and where legendary Ben Hogan won the event five times from 1946 to 1959.
And both McDowell and Comboy quickly liked what they saw and in an event being defended by home town hero, Jordan Spieth.
“This week is clearly a large conflict of interest for me as I have never played here at Fort Worth before but the guys have always said how good this Colonial course would be good for my game and from what I saw today, I really find the course seems to suits my eye so well”, McDowell said.
Graeme McDowell hitting of the fourth and the Colonial Club in Fort Worth, TX.
“In past years it just seems automatic for me to be playing Wentworth this week and that has been the case every year since I turned pro.
“And except one year, and that was in 2o14, this is only the second time I have missed the BMW PGA since first qualifying for the event back in 2oo3.
“So, it is not a decision I have taken lightly but I do need to get more FedEx Cup points on the board between now and August as I am heading home for a long stretch starting at the French and all the way through, and if I qualify as I hope, to The Open.
“I have starts this week along with the FedEx St. Jude Classic Memphis and a week later the US Open up in Wisconsin before heading back to Europe.
Long time caddy Ken Comboy shows the way down the 5th at Colonial. Image … www.golfbytourmiss.com
“So, the decision to be playing this week here in Texas is all about building on that FedEx Cup foundation before heading back over here post The Open.
“But then in saying that, I will be an interested spectator and watching intently how it all goes and looks this week at Wentworth.
“And unless I am defending here at Fort Worth next year, I will be back at Wentworth next year, and in what will also be a Ryder Cup year”.
McDowell, and the lone Irishman in the city founded in 1849 as a US Army outpost, will tee off 1.44pm Irish time THUR.
