McDowell Feeling Right At Home In Bright But Bruising Oman Conditions

3 years ago by Comments Off on McDowell Feeling Right At Home In Bright But Bruising Oman Conditions

… Muscat, Oman

Graeme McDowell could be mistaken he was not back home in wintery Portrush battling the windy conditions coming in off a whipped-up Gulf of Oman to superbly make the cut at the inaugural Asian Tour International Series event in Oman.

There was a real spring in McDowell’s step coming up the last in posting a level par 72 for a one-over tally, to be lying inside the top-20 heading to the weekend rounds in the $US 2m event on the host Al Mouj course in Muscat.

After two bogeys in his opening five holes, McDowell picked-up the first of three birdies at the seventh hole and while he dropped a shot at 11, the highlight of his round was back-to-back birdies at 13 and 14 ahead of four rock solid closing pars.

Japan’s Takumi Kanaya, and a former world amateur No.1, leads the field by a shot, signing for a 71 to move to just four-under and with compatriot Ryo Hisatsune (70) in second place at three-under.

Big threat over the weekend is Chilean Joaquin Niemann and with the World No. 23, and highest ranked in the field posting a 70 to be sharing third place at two-under.

The extremely windy conditions, and up to very late in the afternoon, saw no player break 70 and with just eight of 126 players better the course par of 72.

And with McDowell five off the lead, he knows he’s right in the mix.

“I felt if I could stay around level par or plus one for my two rounds today that I would be in the hunt going into the weekend and I’ve managed to do that”, he said.

“It a very tricky day but after a three-putt bogey on one and that same on four, it was all about hanging tough, and I hung in there well.

“So, I’m happy to be in the middle of the pack but I feel like it can be a weekend where level par could have an outstanding shot of winning this tournament.

“When we got here late this morning and seeing the conditions, and looking at the scores from those out earlier today, we knew we’d be in for a tough day and having spoken with Brooks (Koepka) who was out in the afternoon yesterday when it started blowing strong, we were schooled-up as to what it was like.

“Though these are the type of conditions I like.  No-one likes them necessarily but shall I say I have a good record in these conditions”.

Indeed, the walk along some of the holes here in Oman are not too dissimilar to the walk McDowell enjoyed at Pebble Beach on Father’s Day 2010 in capturing the US Open.

Unlike McDowell, Koepka was on the wrong side of draw and was headed home to Florida posting rounds of 74 and 78 for an eight-over tally.



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