McDowell marvels at Woods masterclass
However, the 32-year-old Ulster man endured a horrible start, visiting two bunkers on his way to a double bogey six at the first, and eventually had to settle for second, five shots behind Woods.
McDowell wasnāt complaining though. The result jumped him four places to 13th in the world rankings and earned him $640,000 (ā¬483,000). He also got to witness the impressive winning return of Woods up close.
McDowell admitted: āIt was great to have a front row seat watching maybe the greatest golfer of all time doing what he does best, winning golf tournaments. Of course, I believed I had a chance but I just never got close enough to the guy. He played well and deserves his win. Itās great to have him back winning tournaments. Heās great for the world of golf, and great for the excitement levels, for television and the fans.ā
McDowell plays the Shell Houston Open this week at Redstone Country Club (along with PƔdraig Harrington, Darren Clarke, Lee Westwood and defending champion Phil Mickelson) hopeful of gaining further momentum ahead of the Masters a week later. Losing out to Woods in the kind of form he displayed at Bay Hill was far from a disgrace.
āIt was such a hard day,ā McDowell accepted. āNobody in the top ten broke 70 and that says it all. The pins were tucked away, there was a tough breeze, the greens were crusty and tough to putt on. It was very major-like. It was fun there for a time making a few bombs but Tiger controlled his ball well and in the end I had to shoot 4-under to win, 3-under for a play-off, and that was a tough ask on this golf course.
āA second place finish at a big event sets up my spring season into the summer. Iām very happy with a lot of the shots Iāve hit this week. Iāve putted well and every facet of my game is in decent shape and Iām excited about Houston and then Augusta.
āI got beaten by the better man and Iāll take some good thoughts into next week.ā
Caddie Joe LaCava, who enjoyed his first USPGA Tour win with Woods, believes his boss would love if the Masters was next on the schedule. Woods though wasnāt so sure. āI still need some work and itās going to be good to get a week off and work on a few things. I enjoyed the progression we made this week. Each day there was a bit of fine tuning here and there and we were able to make those adjustments, which was good, and especially with the conditions getting more difficult at the weekend. I hit some good shots over the last two days and thatās a very good sign going into Augusta. Iāve gone to the Masters with wins and without wins. Youāre looking for (things to come together) for one week. Hopefully everything comes together for that one week. I understand how to play Augusta National and itās just a matter of executing the game plan.ā
Woods has returned to 6th place in the world rankings behind Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy, Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer and Steve Stricker. It was 923 days since his last victory on the USPGA Tour, the BMW Championship on September 13, 2009, and he is now one career win short of Jack Nicklaus on 73 and ten short of Sam Sneadās all-time record of 82.
The European Tour continues with the Sicilian Open at the Verdura Resort with a seven-strong Irish contingent hoping to continue where they left off in Morocco at the weekend. Although Michael Hoey (who has jumped 24 places in the world rankings to a career-best 74th) has returned to Belfast having secured his fourth Tour victory thanks to two superb closing rounds of 65, runner-up Damien McGrane will be hoping to go one better. He is joined in the field by Shane Lowry, Peter Lawrie, Gareth Maybin, Paul McGinley, Gary Murphy and Simon Thornton as well as the richly talented Italian teenager Matteo Manassero, Englandās Tom Lewis and major champions John Daly and Rich Beem.
