McDowell grateful for 'timely' win

Graeme McDowell, who led after the first round when the Open was last held at Hoylake in 2006, will return there buoyed by his first ever successful title defence following a dramatic final day in Paris.

McDowell overturned an eight-shot deficit thanks to a brilliant closing 67 to retain the Alstom Open de France, although he also had plenty of help from American Kevin Stadler.