St. Andrews, Scotland ….
Graeme McDowell’s love-hate relationship with the Old Course at St. Andrews continued on the final day of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
McDowell was just inside the top-10 in playing the famed 17th ‘Road Hole’ but then taking a double bogey before a long birdie at the last in a round of 69 to share 15th place at 11-under par.
It left McDowell trailing 12 shots adrift of England’s Tyrrell Hatton who clinched a maiden European Tour title with ease by four shots courtesy of a last day 66.
Hatton, who turns 25 later this week, also equalled the tournament 72-hole low of 23-under par and in the process became the 15th different winner in the 16-history of the $US 5m event.
McDowell was headed south for this week’s British Masters and happy to turn his back on the Old Course where he has been runner-up in the 2004 Dunhill and enjoys a best finish, in three Open Championship showings on the Old Course, of 11th in 2005.
Graeme McDowell driving off the 5th tee during the final round of the 2016 Alfred Dunhill LInks Championship. (Photo – Getty)
But it was the notorious ‘Road Hole’, the 17th on the Old Course, that took another prisoner in McDowell.
“The double on 17 is going to leave a sour taste in the mouth even though I did birdie the last but then I got a bit negative on the second shot at 17 that just didn’t come out good from the rough,” he said.
“But overall I enjoyed the weekend as there was a lot of positives with a lot of good stuff happening with all parts of my game and I’m liking the way things are trending at the moment.”
The effort lifted ‘G Mac’ from 63 to 57 on the Race to Dubai money list but for a second running McDowell has ruled himself out of contesting the Final Series or the season-ending DP World Tour Championship should he qualify.
And for a second year running, McDowell teamed with jockey legend A. P. McCoy and with duo finishing top-15.
“It was brilliant and good fun partnering Graeme again although my only disappointment was that I let him down a little bit at Kingsbarns on Friday otherwise will would have been in contention,” said McCoy.
“So hopefully we’ll get another go next year and now I’ve got a few days off before playing in the British Masters Pro-Am on Wednesday with Shane (Lowry).”
Shane Lowry, and like McDowell, fought back after a poor Carnoustie first round to end with a 66 for a 10-under par tally and a share of 18th place.
“I had a bad middle part of the round here on Saturday but other than that I played pretty decent while today I just played great and absolutely flushed it,” said Lorwy.
“So I am pretty happy with my week and looking forward to taking this great form to the British Masters.”
And Lowry delighted in taking an undisclosed sum of Paul Dunne, who celebrated 12 months in the pro ranks just a shot behind with a last day 69 and a share of 25th place on nine under par
Dunne’s effort earned him a Euro 41,171 prize cheque that lifted him 11 spots to 99th on the Race to Dubai money list, and the same number of spots away from being inside the top-110 to retain his card.
However, Dunne now faces an anxious 12 days to establish if he gains entry into the October 20th starting Portugal Masters.
“I’ve managed to pick up a few spots on the Race to Dubai but at this stage I’m 14th reserve into Portugal so I do really need to get into Portugal for my own peace of mind,” he said.
