Graeme McDowell had no excuses after posting his poorest round in three months and shooting a three over par 75 to slide to five over par on day three of the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

McDowell’s score included three birdies along with a similar number of bogeys plus a hurtful triple bogey ‘7’ at the par four 15th where he put his second shot from a bunker well right and out-of-bounds.

He was forced to take a penalty drop in the bunker before managing to send his third some 50-yards down the fairway from where McDowell put his fourth left of the green and into another bunker. He spashed out with his sixth shot to just two feet and holed out for a triple bogey.

It is McDowell’s highest score all season and his poorest since shooting a similar 75 on the second day of last November’s WGC – HSBC Champions event at Mission Hills in China and the day he had jammed his hand in a hotel room door.

McDowell ended Friday’s second round signing for a two over par 74 and revealing he had been struggling with tiredness and an aching body for much of the week.

However when asked after his third round how he was feeling the current World No. 15 remarked:  “No, I’m fine. It’s just that I didn’t play well today.  So, no excuses.”

After being runner-up to Tiger Woods in last year’s Bay Hill tournament, McDowell has failed to break 70 this year with rounds now of 72, 74 and 75.

He’s also only managed five birdies over the three days including one each on Thursday and Friday.

And a check of McDowell’s stats for the three days of the $6.2m event reveals there’s no problem with the short stick, as he’s averaged 27 putts a round.

He’s hit all but 14 of 42 fairways in regulation but then only found the green 25 of 54 greens in regulation.

McDowell now just has one competitive PGA Tour round before making his way to Augusta National and the year’s first Major.

However he does have two days of competition in Monday and Tuesday’s ‘made-for-TV’ Tavistock Cup being played at the Isleworth Club and less than a 10-minute drive from here at the Bay Hill Club.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the tournament and now featuring six teams representing the following clubs – Albany, Isleworth, Lake Nona, Oak Tree National, Primland and Queenword near London.

McDowell will once again represent the Lake Nona Club that has won six of the nine Tavistock Cup’s including the past four.

Traffic stops for McDowell as he heads to the Bay Hill scorer’s hut at five over par in the Arnold Palmer Invitational. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)

G Mac signs autographs after a third round 75 for a disappointing four over par tally. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)