Former U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell will end his 2012 season and revealing he will be starting his 2013 year in L.A.
Dowell will skip competing in the European Tour’s Middle East Swing and intsead tee-up next February in the Northern Trust Open.
“I’m going to give the Middle East Swing a miss next year and start my season at the Northern Trust Open in L. A simply so I can have an extended break,” he said.
Graeme McDowell looking forward to a 10-week break and skipping next year’s Middle East Swing. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
“I haven’t had a proper, proper break in years so I’m taking 10 weeks off, and besides I’m moving into my new place in Orlando.
“I’ve got a few corporate outings on the calendar next month and a few other bits and pieces, plus I’m going home to Ireland for a few days but for all of January I will be in Orlando spending time working out physically and on my game getting ready for 2013.
“I haven’t played the Riviera course and I haven’t been able to squeeze it into my schedule for years.”
In fact, McDowell has not contested the event since 2009 when he finished 40th but after also missing the cut in 2005 and 2006.
McDowell will be turning his back on some superb efforts early on in the Middle East, including finishing third the past two years in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
However if the current World No. 24 had his ways he would remove this week’s event at Jumeirah Estates from his schedule after struggling with a second round 73 for a one over par and be near the tail of the field in the $8m event.
It is the 12th occasion in 14 rounds of the Greg Norman designed course McDowell has failed to break par.
“Do me a favour and pull up my putting stats here for the last four years because I just cannot pot these greens,” he said.
“I don’t like the golf course much but it is what it is and I don’t play it badly tee to green, and for 28 holes out of 36 I have played not just good golf but beautiful golf.
“But I’m only four under for those 28 holes and I just doesn’t make any sense, and I just can’t score on this golf course.
“I just feel the whole field is a different golf course and I’m looking at the leader boards and there five, six and seven under par scores but I just can’t shoot those numbers.
“This place just does not suit me and as far as visioning goes, I’ve never enjoyed this golf course as there is about 11 or 12 blind iron shots that don’t help you put a visual together of a quality shot. A good iron shot goes to 15 feet rather than eight or 10 feet.
“I’m going to sound like a moaner and whiner but this is my personal opinion and if I have broken 70 four times around here I would be surprised (In fact – broken 70 four times in 14 rounds).
“So, no complaints. It’s the end of a long year and I am happy as Larry and I am looking forward to more exciting weeks.
“I will go to Tiger’s event next and to a golf course I know I can score well on, and where I’ve won before.
“But like I said there is a familiarity about where we are standing now that does my sweet in.”
