Reigning French Open champ Graeme McDowell will be officiating as on-course referee ahead of tomorrow’s (FRID) Word Cup Germany v France showdown.
Graeme McDowell beside the French Open trophy he won last year. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
Organisers of the Euro 3m event have grouped McDowell with 2009 winner Martin Kaymer and French golfing ace Victor Dubuisson for the first two days of the Euro 3m event.
And the Tour has done all three a favour with an early second round tee time ahead of the Germany –v- France crunch match in Brazil.
So with no Northern Ireland interest in Brazil McDowell joked he will act as referee over two days of the National course.
“Firstly, I am very excited to be in Versailles for the France and Germany quarter-final match as it’s going to be a great buzz,” said McDowell.
“And secondly there will be an Irish referee for the Frenchman and the German in our group for the first two rounds.”
Double major winning Kaymer also has promised to don a German team top for the match.
“I was very glad when I saw the tee times and I hope to think the organizers arranged that on purpose so we can watch the game,” he said.
“We have played against France a lot of times and while we struggled against Algeria the other day, we showed a lot of patience and the patience paid off.
“I will be wearing my shirt somewhere in Versailles and hopefully I won’t get attached (smiling).”
McDowell’s French Open defence is the start of an important five-event run over the next six weeks, and hopefully culminating with automatic selection in Paul McGinley’s European side.
The soon-to-be new father is currently 16th overall on the points table and needing no reminder of his talent in looking back this time last year when he arrived in Versailles in the midst of an eight week run where he missed five cuts but won three times.
But since then he’s played in 23 events on both sides of ‘The Pond’ with seven top-10s, no wins and two missed cuts.
“That just shows what a funny game this is as 2013 was probably one of my most inconsistent seasons ever but with three victories,” he said.
“But then in saying that I am enjoying my consistency this year but I’m craving a win, craving the big, big weeks.
“So if I can keep executing my game plans and keep going through the processes and staying fresh, as I have purposely stayed fresh for a reason this summer, I am hoping there will be a big one or two inside me.”
And while he’s played just 11 of those 23 events this year McDowell ruled out that in playing little golf he could have spoiled his Gleneagles goal.
“There’s no doubt I am slightly behind the 8 ball in the Ryder Cup but there was always that chance and I am okay with that,” he said.
“But then I’ve got more golf to play the next two-and-a-half months than most guys.
“I’ve got this week’s French Open, the British Open, RBC Canadian Open, WGC Bridgestone, PGA Championship and then straight into four FedEx Play-Off events, so the golf is all in front of me.
“I want to be going into the Ryder Cup on form and my form these next couple of months will dictate whether I am on that team or whether I will need a wildcard pick or whether I miss the team all together.
“So it’s all in front of me and I will not look back and say I was under-played as my Ryder Cup opportunity is now ahead of me, and I am fresh and I am playing well and we just have to try and execute.”
Row of former French Open champions (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
Graeme McDowell – 2014 French Open winner. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
