Graeme McDowell ended his 2,037 day wait for a European Tour title with a gutsy, grinding victory at the 2020 Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers.
On a windy final day at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club, the 40-year-old used all his experience to card a closing 70 and finish at 12 under, two shots clear of defending champion Dustin Johnson.
Raised in Northern Ireland and with a Major victory at Pebble Beach Golf Links in the 2010 U.S. Open Championship, McDowell is a master of playing in the wind, and he utilised all his guile to come home in 34 as many of his rivals faltered.
Johnson eagled the last in a 67 to finish a shot ahead of fellow American Phil Mickelson, Malaysia's Gavin Green and Belgian Thomas Pieters.
Make no mistake this was a great investment week for the sponsors with McDowell's emotional win, and Johnson, Mickelson and Koepka all in the mix all week, bringing the world's attention to them and golf in Saudi Arabia. Sadly however, you noticed how few spectators showed up, indicative how this was really a showcase for the ruling family, not for his nation who don't play golf.
McDowell's 11th European Tour victory and first since making a successful defence at the 2014 Open de France could take him back into the top 50 on the Official World Golf Ranking and makes him a European Tour winner in three different decades.
The victory also means his 16 professional wins have come in 13 different countries and he is determined to have another prolonged spell at the top of the game after claiming his first triumph since turning 40.
"It's special," he said. "I've been working hard the last year and a half. I want to be back up there one more time just to be able to play against these guys. The game of golf is in such great shape, there are so many great players in the world, it's so exciting to be a top player in the world and I want to be back up there again.I have young kids at home and I wanted them to see me play at the top with these guys, not just rely on pulling out the YouTube's"
Bryan Angus
(europeantour.com)
Bryan Angus
(europeantour.com)
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