Graeme McDowell has ended a 16-month winless drought in capturing the OHL Mayakoba Classic in Mexico.
McDowell made the most in missing out in qualifying for the European Tour’s Final Four Series to win for a first time contesting the ‘Mexican Major’.
The Northern Irishman will move back inside the world’s top-50 along with earning an invitation to contest next year’s Masters with his play-off success over Scotland-s in-form Russell Knox and Americn Jason Bohn.
Graeme McDowell ends 31 month winless drought winning ‘Mexico’s Major’. (Photo – www.pgatour.com)
All three had ended the rain-affected event tied at 18-under par and with McDowell claiming a third PGA Tour title and his first since sealing success in the 2013 RBC Heritage.
It was his first taste of success since capturing a second straight French Open title in June 2014.
McDowell and Knox, and wearing black ribbons in memory of last Friday’s ‘Paris Attack’, each posted fourth round scores of 66 while Bohn ended with a 68.
However it was McDowell who struck the lethal blow holing a testy birdie putt at the first extra hole to win ‘Mexica’s Major’ in his first appearance in the $US 6.1m event that earned him a $1,116,000 first prize cheque.
And McDowell was the first to admit it had been a frustrating time since he was last handed a trophy and that was in June 2014 in capturing a second straight French Open title in Versailles.
Graeme McDowell delighted to lift his first victory trophy since June 2014.
“It really gives me something to grab onto,” McDowell said of the victory. “You go through a year like this and you think, ‘am I finished? Am I good enough? You ask yourself all the questions.
“The game of golf is very difficult and it’s been a tough year but this is special. I have been dreaming of this day and I said to myself I was going to appreciate it when it came, so I am going to really appreciated this one as it’s been a tough year.
“So this win is special and I will share it with my caddy, my team, my manager and my wife.
“I’ve stuck to my task the last three to four months and I’ve kept grinding away so thanks to everyone who kept believing in me.
“So this is a nice step back to where I want to be as I want to win more tournaments, win more major championships, so this win is very special.”
And what was special was McDowell’s second shot at the first extra hole, a 5-iron that run right by the hole and stopping some three feet behind the flagstick and with McDowell reacting by giving caddy, Ken Comboy a congratulatory ‘low five’.
“Looking at the play-off, I hit as good a 5-iron as I could hit despite the fact I was thinking 6-iron as I wanted to smash a 6-iron but Kenny said ‘no’ as it was a 5-iron shot and I could tell from the crowd, it was a pretty good shot and it was nice to knock in a two-and-a-half footer to take care of this.”
Graeme McDowell on route to his third PGA Tour victory in five years.
McDowell began the day tied with Knox on 19-under after Sunday’s final day was cut short by storms, but after a brief stoppage for more rain Knox made his move with a birdie at the 13th.
The Scot, chasing back-to-back victories after winning the WGC – HSBC Champions last week, handed back that shot at the next but it was McDowell’s error in leaving his par putt in the jaws of the hole at the 16th which opened the door for Knox.
As the Northern Irishman posted the clubhouse lead on 18-under – holing a nerveless 10-footer for par – Knox stood on the 18th tee needing a par-four for victory.
However, he pulled his drive into a bunker, came up short of the green and missed from 15 feet for victory. Bohn, who had started the day two behind, joined them in the play-off but when McDowell, first to play his approach to the 18th, hit a five-iron to two feet victory was his as neither of his rivals could match his birdie.
The win takes McDowell’s PGA Tour career earnings over the $US 13m mark while he has earned an invitation to the 2016 Masters and should be back assured of playing all four Majors of 2016 given he will move back into the world’s top-50.
