While Tiger Woods was heading back to World No. 1 with an expected victory at the tornado-delayed Arnold Palmer Invitational, Graeme McDowell was at the nearby Isleworth Golf Club warming up for Tuesday’s Tavistock Cup Singles shootout.
The tornado that ripped through central Florida just at 2pm local time on Sunday also meant the cancellation today of the official first round of the 10th anniversary of the Tavistock Cup.
Graeme McDowell competing in 2013 Tavistock Cup.
Instead all six four-man teams will compete Tuesday in Singles matches and the team with the most points will be declared the winner.
However after just two teams – Isleworth and Lake Nona – fighting each other for glory in 2004, the event now includes teams from Queenwood in London, Albany in the Caribbean, Oak Tree National in Oklahoma and Primland, a stunning Donald Steel designed course in North Carolina.
McDowell has been a member of the last four winning Lake Nona teams and while he proudly named his new Nona Blue Tavern after his Lake Nona Club, the Northern Irishman said he enjoyed the format better when it was just a competition between Lake Nona and Isleworth.
“It should be a fun two days despite the tournament now officially decided over just one round but I have to say I enjoyed it better when it was Blue (Lake Nona) against Red (Isleworth) and we had that cross-town rivaly,” he said.
“We first had two teams then went to four and now we have six teams but it will be a bit of fun.
“There will be a lot of needle now in tomorrow’s individual matches but I feel pretty chilled and I’m looking forward to it.”
And it will McDowell’s first time in catching up face-to-face with newly appointed European Ryder Cup captain, Paul McGinley who is representing the Queenwood Club.
“I’ve been in contact with Paul but our paths haven’t crossed yet so it will be good to catch up with him and congratulate him over his appointment,” said McDowell.
“I saw him the other day on the Golf Channel’s Morning Drive program.”
And what also McDowell say to McGinley, apart from ‘congratulations on your appointment’?
“I will be saying to Paul that I am looking forward to being on his team next year,” said McDowell.
“That’s the goal next year to be on that Gleneagles team and to be a part of hopefully Paul’s winning European Ryder Cup side.”
