Graeme McDowell misses French connection but won’t ring alarm bells

Graeme McDowell wasn’t ringing any Open Championship alarm bells as he looks certain to drop outside the World’s Top 50 for a first time in more than five years after missing the halfway cut in the defence of his French Open title.

McDowell struggled not only with the driver but also the shortest club in his bag, posting scores of 72 and 78 for a shock seven over par tally in continuing heatwave conditions on the Le National course on the outskirts of Versailles.

It is only a third occasion in his 10 European Tour victories McDowell has not played all four rounds in the defence of a Tour title.