Graeme McDowell and Shane Lowry kept alive the prospect of an all-Ireland final in the Volvo World Match-Playt Championship in Bulgaria.
McDowell continues to display his World No. 8 status in easily winning through to the last 16 with a convincing 4 & 2 demolition of Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher.
The former US Open champion was never behind his match racing to 2up with winning birdies at the second and third holes, and was then 4up after the seventh.
Gallacher, winner earlier this year of the Dubai Desert Classic, fought back to win three holes in succession from the ninth before McDowell closed out the match also winning three holes in a row from the 14th.
Graeme McDowell delighted to breeze through to last 16 in Volvo World Match-Play. (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)
“It was a good game, and I got off to a fast start, played beautifully the first eight holes but then started getting into a little trouble which you can do around this golf course,” he said.
“I hit two bad tee shots and all of a sudden Stephen wins three on the spin and it’s back to grinding again.
“But then Stephen returned the favour with a couple of bad tee shots of his own and thankfully that made my job a little easier.”
McDowell, is looking also to make amends from losing last year’s final in Spain, will now tackle American Bo Van Pelt.
Lowry had lost his morning match to South African George Coetzee and needed to defeat dual Ryder Cup star, Peter Hanson in the afternoon to join McDowell.
Lowry took care of the Swede with a 4 & 2 win but it meant all three players in the group had earned two points, so under the rules it was a play-off to decide the winner of the group and also the runner-up with both to go through.
The trio pared the first before Lowry drilled a super 5-iron from 191-yards to just six feet at the par three second hole.
Lowry was then pumping his fist when the putt dropped to secure top spot in his group and with Hanson making a par but Coetzee bowing out with a bogey.
“It was roller coaster of a day as I played George in the morning and knew I had to do a better job against Peter in the afternoon,” he said.
“I mananaged to play lovely and get a nice win under my belt.”
However before heading into the play-off Lowry phoned his coach, who gave him a ‘few pointers’ to take to the extra holes.
“I have no excuses,” said Poulter after arriving in Bulgaria having missed the cut in his past two events, the Players Championship and the Masters.
“There is no excuse for that display of golf over the last two days. It’s disgusting, disgraceful and there’s no explanation. I should have been able to finish the match off.
“My concentration was simply not there and therefore you make mental errors when you have not used your brain. It’s completely unacceptable.”
When asked what was next install, Poulter responded: “The tallest tree with the shortest rope. I am p***** off. I will stay p***** off for a couple of hours and then get to England and win at Wentworth (venue for next week’s BMW PGA Championship).”
