McDowell Sends Out SOS For Missing Clubs Ahead Of Tuesday’s Open Final Qualifier

7 years ago by Comments Off on McDowell Sends Out SOS For Missing Clubs Ahead Of Tuesday’s Open Final Qualifier

It is a golfer’s worst nightmare arriving at an airport without any golf clubs.

That was the scenario facing Graeme McDowell as he arrived at Manchester Airport very early Monday morning ahead of teeing-up Tuesday in a 36-hole Open Championship qualifier at the Old St. Annes course just to the south of Blackpool in England.

McDowell was headed to Manchester Airport after his disappointing showing in Sunday’s concluding French Open in Versailles where he finished T37th and effectively out of contention late on Friday in taking a closing hole ‘snowman’ – a quadruple bogey ‘8’.

Graeme McDowell’s golf bag seen here at the Colonial Club in Fort Worth, Texas but missing upon arrival this morning at Manchester Airport. (Photo @tourmiss)

He and his caddy boarded their flight from Charles De Gaulle to Manchester only for his ‘tools of trade’ to be missing.

It led McDowell to tweet at 5.42am Monday (UK time) from nearby Knutsford:

“Need assistance from @airfrance. Flew into Manchester last night from CDG and my golf clubs are untraceable. I have a 36 qualifier tomorrow for @TheOpen and really need my bag. Thanks in advance.

John in the Pro Shop at Old St. Annes, and when phoned at just after 5pm Monday UK time, that McDowell’s clubs still had not arrived and all that he and his caddy could do was walk the course.

G Mac elected not to borrow a set of clubs.

The incident certainly has spoilt McDowell’s practice plans ahead of Tuesday’s qualifier where the leading three players will earn a 147th Open Championship tee time.

Old St. Annes is one of four venues in Britain to be hosting Final Qualifying.

And if McDowell should be unsuccessfull he will have another shot at both this week’s Irish Open and the following week’s Scottish Open, where three spots are available for non-exempt players at each tournament.

McDowell is among two Major winners teeing-up Tuesday with double US Open winner, Retief Goosen of South Africa competing at the Princes Club in Kent.

McDowell will be joined by 10 other Irish who have entered Final Qualifying and they include:

Notts Hollinwell GC (England)

Michael Hoey, Peter Williamson

Princes GC (England)

Brendan McCarroll, Robin Dawson (amt), Eoin Leonard

Old St. Annes (England)

Graeme McDowell, Neil O’Briain, James Sugrue, Shane Franklin

The Renaissance Club (Scotland)

Dermot McElroy, Cameron Raymond, Kevin Le Blanc, Conor O’Rourke


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