One of the timeless quotes in this game " the toughest course in golf is the one between your ears" was on full display in the post round press conference in Mayakoba, Mexico after Graeme McDowell birdied the 1st playoff hole with a superb 5 iron from 220 yards over the water to within 4 feet for a 3 to beat Jason Bohn and Russell Knox for his first win world wide since the French Open in 2013.
"I've been asking myself all the questions, am I good enough to be out here, do I want to get back into the grind, do I still have it ?"
This is from a guy who won the 2010 US Open and is considered by his peers to be one of the leaders of the Ryder Cup team, the backbone, the glue...how easily self doubt creeps in, how fine a line it is between being one of golf's best, and just one of the guys making up the numbers.
Consider this, McDowell is in the final year of his PGA Tour exemption and had not finished in the top 10 since the Dubai Desert Classic at the beginning of the season. He was down to 85th in the world after a new marriage found him wanting to stay home spending time with his wife and daughter Vale. He didn't qualify for the Fed Ex Cup and decided to skip the playoffs for the Race to Dubai since he was so far behind.
“It’s been a rough year for all the right reasons,” he said. “I’ve been enjoying life off the golf course with my beautiful family. Golf hasn’t been the priority it should be. But the last three or four months I got back to where I want to be.”
If you didn't see it, he made a clutch 8 footer for par on his 72nd for a -5 66 to finish at -18, 266 but the drama wasn't over as Russell Knox looking for his 2nd straight win came up his last hole with a one shot lead but he yanked his tee shot into a fairway bunker with a big lip, came out short and eventually missed his par putt for a 66 while Jason Bohn was grinding hard with some gutsy par saving putts for a 68 to join the playoff.
So his decision to wipe the board clean and get 2016 off to a fresh start in Mexico has put him right back on track, he will now be in the Masters next spring, as well as the PGA Championship and The Players.
It has also stopped the trend of 20 something winners so far this year. Emiliano Grillo, Smylie Kaufman, Justin Thomas, Peter Malnati, all graduates of the Web.com tour have been the story of this wrap around season so far.
David Hearn finished T74, 68 70 75 72 +1.
This week the LPGA Tour is in Naples, Florida to wrap up their season, with Lydia Ko and Inbee Park neck and neck, and the European Tour's best are in the desert at Dubai for their finale with Rory McIlroy holding the top spot, but has at least 5 guys, all in form with a chance to win the Race to Dubai.
Bryan Angus
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