Graeme McDowell concerned with Tiger Woods' withdrawal from the US Open
Defending US Open champion, Irishman Graeme McDowell expressed his concern about Tiger Woods' health and his subsequent withdrawal from the US Open next week. Graeme regarded Woods' absence “a massive blow” to the game.
“We all hope as golfers that his health can come back,” he added. “Golf needs him. He has been golf for the last 15 years.”
Woods was seen limping off the course at the Players Championship last month, after he decided to withdraw from the tournament due to his haunting knee injury. He remained hopeful to return to Congressional to contend for the top slot but announced on Tuesday
to withdraw from the second major of the season due to lingering knee injury.
On a question of Woods sliding down on the leaderboard to the 15th position on OWGR, McDowell said, “Will he be back? Nobody knows at the minute. There's obviously a lot going on. His mental health is one question and his physical health is now
another.”
McDowell said he was concerned when Woods made the exit from the Players Championship and somehow knew the injury will turn out for the worse.
“The warning signs were there, but we thought he'd be ready for the U.S. Open,” he said. “Tiger plays his cards close to his chest and it's pretty difficult to know what's going on, His quest to beat Jack Nicklaus's record is one of the great golf stories
and we hope he gets better soon.”
McDowell will be returning to the Congressional this week where he will defend his first major title he won last year. The 31-year-old Irishman had been resting at the fifth position in Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR) but slid down to eighth due to his
lackluster performance at the Saab Wales Open last week, that too coming on his favourite hunting ground, The Celtic Manor Resort.
Opening up with impressive scores in two rounds, he slumped to a whooping over-par score of 81 in the third round and failed to bounce back in the final round. McDowell, though, is barely disappointed by his performance at Celtic Manor and is still hoping
to retain the title.
McDowell decided to layback for a while to replenish his energy for the second major of the season. He travelled back to his home at Portrush after the Saab Wales Open and opted not to play at the PGA or European Tour events before the US Open.
The 31-year-old has three top 20 finishes at the major championships and has eight professional wins, most of them coming on the European Tour. McDowell is also fighting to schedule a European Tour in Ireland along with Rory Mcilroy.
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