Magnificent McDowell holds nerve to end season on a high

Graeme McDowell ended an otherwise disappointing 2012 campaign in magnificent fashion by holding on under strong pressure from American Keegan Bradley to capture the Tiger Woods World Challenge and the first prize of more than a million dollars at Sherwood Country Club near Los Angeles last night.

A majestic birdie 3 at the 18th saw McDowell close the tournament with a round of 68 for a 17 under par total of 271 and a victory that will mean a great deal to him as he happily prepares for a 10-week break from competitive golf that he hopes will help to recharge the batteries.

Before going out for the final round, he tweeted: “Game is in nice shape so let’s go low and do this thing.” Eventually, he did just that and in doing so proved just how strong he is mentally under the keenest pressure, a little chip from a horrible lie at the short 17th and his wonderful approach to the 18th proving the point as Bradley maintained the pressure all the way to the finish.

Not having had a win since beating Tiger Woods in a play-off at this event two years ago, thus capping off a dream season in which he won the US Open and the decisive match for Europe in the Ryder Cup, McDowell had a whole lot to play for.

The 33-year-old Antrim man (who recently became engaged to Kristin Stape) reached the turn yesterday in one under 35 to extend his lead over Bradley, who bogeyed the 8th and 9th, to three. Both men birdied the 10th before McDowell holed from 20 feet for a four at the long 11th to move four ahead. However, the title was back in the melting pot when McDowell took six to the American’s four at the par five 13th.

McDowell did superbly well to match Bradley’s birdie on the 16th by rolling in a nine footer to keep his two-shot advantage with two to play. The chip from the back of the 17th meant he had a two-stroke advantage going up the 18th

The final day of the tournament that carries his name proved a source of frustration for Woods for whom little went right over the opening 12 holes. When a three footer for a birdie at the 10th after a beautifully played approach horseshoed out of the cup, he was still awaiting his first birdie of the day. Typical of the man, however, he fought for every shot and produced one of the shots of the week, a towering three wood to the long 16th that pulled up eight feet from the flag and he knocked in the eagle putt to move to 10 under. Woods found a hazard at the final hole to run up a bogey to finish nine under and so end a season that saw him win three times but still no sign of a 15th major title.