G-Mac’s French dressing

Graeme McDowell achieved a career first and heads into next week’s British Open in the best possible frame of mind after virtually being handed a successful defence of his French Open title in Versailles.

McDowell was all set to prepare for a play-off with Kevin Stadler, who had led for three days, but the American missed a short putt at the final green.

McDowell came from eight shots behind, for the most part in miserable wet and windy conditions, to bogey the last in final round 67 for a five-under par total.