Golf: European Graeme McDowell wins US Open after 40 years, dedicates win to father for Father's Day
Graeme McDowell is a professional golfer who normally competes in European tournaments. McDowell’s career has finally taken root after he achieved a victory in his first major at US Open at Pebble Beach. The 30 year-old Irishmen beat France's Gregory Havret by one shot and won the US Open Championship. This was Europe’s first victory in the US Open after lagging behind for 40 years.
After winning the Championship McDowell said that careers are remembered by Majors, thus by winning the US Open my career has started. McDowell later on said that with his win at the US Open he is in the same league as players like Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Tom Watson and Tom Kite.
McDowell was three hits behind Dustin Johnson when he started the game on the final round at Pebble Beach. He kept his spirits high in the final round and scored 74 for a level-par total. Johnson began to fall short after he hit a triple bogey seven on the second and then dropped a further two shots on the third. McDowell on the other hand played sensibly and did not drop a single shot till the ninth. McDowell took a one shot lead on the 18th over Havret. As Havret missed a birdie putt McDowell played his second shot, little away from the green.
McDowell won his first major title on his 19th attempt after putting the ball in the hole from 20-feet.
McDowell at Celtic Manor won the Welsh Open two weeks ago and said that at the moment he is playing the golf of his life and feels ready to go ahead. McDowell was joined by his father on the final day at Peebles Beach. McDowell after winning the trophy gave it to his father as a father’s day present.
Havret before going into the tournament was ranked 391st in the world. He never felt stress or lost his spirit while playing alongside Woods and was the best leading contender in the championship.
McDowell's victory was highly celebrated back home at home club Portrush. The World Number One however failed to capitalize as in his first 10 holes he bogeyed five of them. Woods in the end of the tournament tied scores with Mickelson for the fourth position. Woods the world number 1 stated that due to his three mistakes at crucial times, lost his opportunity to win the US Open title.
Mickelson could have easily taken the spot at the top of the ranking chart if he had won the US Open title. Mickelson in the end failed to make a comeback and finished with a 73 and three over par total. Mickelson was still a par short at the tournament which was actually a winning run. Mickelson only needed to shoot an even par to qualify for the play-off. Mickelson was happy with his finish at the US Open championship even though he was not able to grasp victory.
South Africa's Ernie Els also shared a lead with McDowell after he played three more shots. It seemed as if Ernie would grasp the title, but near the finish time he was short and later fell further after he scored a bogey in the five of the last 10 holes. Ernie finished third in the tournament behind Havret.
With victory at the US Open, McDowell's world ranking will lift from 37th to 13th. McDowell is the first European player after Tony Jacklin to win the US Open title. He is also the second Irishmen to win this major, as the first was won in 1947 by Fred Daly. McDowell is now looking ahead to win another Grand Slam title and to make his way to the top-10 rankings in the world.
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