Graeme McDowell has reluctantly retired his Ryder Cup winning driver after the back of his driver started to separate during the first round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
McDowell knew there was something wrong with his trusty 18-month old Callaway FT-Tour driver on the first tee of the National Club course.
“I could tell with my first swing of the day on the first that the glue inside the driver had come loose,” he said after shooting a level par 72.
- Graeme McDowell’s sentimental Callaway driver showing the clubface starting to seperate from the body of the driver. (Exclusive photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
An inspection of McDowell’s 8.5 degree driver shows the bottom of the driver scuffed and missing much of its shine while a portion of the face has started to seperate from the back of the club.
It’s the club he used to help steer Europe to victory in the Celtic Manor Ryder Cup.
McDowell also enjoyed individual success in winning the 2010 Valderrama Masters and defeating Tiger Woods at the last hole to capture the Chevron Challenge later the same year.
“It just seemed to get progressively worse as the round went on,” he said.
“On the 17th, and the toughest tee shot of the day, I hit it right out of the middle of the bat and the ball only went 210 yards and walk off with a bogey.
“So I would say the driver is now slightly defective with the back of the head cracked off
“I’ve had a weight or whatever come loose before but this is the first time the back of the head has separated.
“It’s disappointing because I played really well today and I also have many fond memories of that particular driver as I won twice with it in 2010.
“And it I had to single out the best drive I had with the driver it was my tee shot at 16 on the last day of the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor so it has a lot of sentimental value.”
In lieu, McDowell will pack a new Cleveland driver into his bag for the second round in the UAE capital.
“I have been testing the new Cleveland driver so I am pretty well used to its characteristics and it should be a problem adapting,” he said.
“It’s just a pity because the Callaway has been a great driver so I guess now I will have to retire it to the trophy cabinet.”
