G-Mac shows his mettle

Graeme McDowell’s Ryder Cup experience proved crucial as he came back from the dead to beat big-hitting pal Gary Woodland with a birdie at the 19th in the first round of the WGC-Accenture Match Play last night.

McDowell was reeling, four down after seven and three down with three to play before the man from Kansas lost his nerve coming down the stretch.

McDowell used all his matchplay experience to clinch a memorable victory by rolling in a six footer for a sweet birdie three at the first extra hole to deny his Lake Nona neighbour.

“I feel incredibly fortunate to have got through that match,” a relieved but delighted McDowell said.

“I thought it was over. Yeah, literally, you’re not coming back from three down against a guy that’s playing as well as him.

“It required a mistake from him to get me give me half a sniff, even.

“He had pretty much pummelled me for the first nine holes — like it would have been in a boxing ring and I would not like to fight the guy.

“He’s a talented player and he didn’t make mistakes and just threw the kitchen sink at me. But just when you think you are dead and buried, (you get) a little luck.”

Rory McIlroy also joined McDowell in the second round as had too much firepower and overall class and easily despatched Boo Weekley 3 and 2 to set up a mouthwatering clash with the impressive American Harris English today.

Nothing McIlroy did could match the sheer drama of McDowell’s comeback victory that owed as much to Woodland’s inexperience as it did to the Portrush man’s gritty determination.

Having lost the first three holes, the 2010 US Open champion found himself four down after seven and facing a first round exit for the fifth time in seven years.

When Woodland birdied the 15th to go three up with three to play, all looked lost. But the 29-year old American handed McDowell the par-three 16th when he overshot the green by 15 yards and failed to make the putting surface in two.

McDowell applied more pressure with a super second to 12 feet at the par-four 17th and holed the putt to take the match to the last.

Woodland had outdriven the Portrush start by more than 40 yards for most of the day his decision to take an iron off the tee backfired.

Faced with 210 yards to the flag, he bunkered his approach and with McDowell only 12 feet away in two, he knifed his recovery into the bunker on the opposite side of the green and failed to make the putting surface in four. At the first extra hole it was McDowell who prevailed, hitting to six feet and holing the putt for a sensational victory that sets up a second round clash with Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama, who beat Martin Kaymer 2 and 1.

“He looked unbeatable,” McDowell added. “He hit a six iron all over the flag at 16 and I thought, the Cadillacs are circling and I figured my manager had a plane ticket booked for me and I was going home.

“It’s hard. I’m sure he’s extremely disappointed right now. And I’m extremely elated. I’m surprised to be sitting here, having won.

“The thing I really like about this tournament, yes, it’s very volatile and very brutal, and you could be going home. You can play well and be going home Wednesday afternoon. But I like it because you can come in here and put your game under Sunday afternoon pressure on a Wednesday.”

McIlroy was four up on Weekley with seven to play but bogeyed the 12th and had to wait until the 16th to close out a 3 and 2 victory.

“I probably got complacent the last few holes and gave him a couple but for the most part I played nicely,” McDowell said. “I’m happy to get through to the next round.

“I feel like I have been really driving the ball well for the past three or four months and it has really helped my game. It’s the foundation of my game and if I can drive it long and straight it gives me a big advantage.”