Graeme McDowell frustrated with his play so far in Dubai
Graeme McDowell, a three-time winner on tour this year, has played a lot of golf recently in a bid to top the European Tour money list, led by Martin Kaymer. Ranked number-two on the money
list entering the Dubai World Championship, the season-ending event on the European Tour being contested this week, McDowell was the only player other than Kaymer with a chance to finish the season atop the money list and claim the $1.5 million bonus. A win
would guarantee him the spot.
But the reigning U.S. Open champion has failed to produce after two rounds and will enter the weekend 10 shots
behind the leaders and eight behind Kaymer. He told reporters that he is getting frustrated. "I am frustrated
because I'm not doing what I should be doing this week. I just don't think I have a huge amount left in the tank. I've certainly got that feeling maybe it's one step too far. I'm a mentally tired man."
McDowell still had a chance at the title after shooting an even-par 72 on Thursday but he followed that up with a one-over 73 at the Jumeirah Golf Estates. Barring a miracle finish, the
31-year-old won’t finish ahead of Kaymer, which would have capped a breakout season for the Northern Irishman.
McDowell made four bogeys along with three birdies on Friday. "I was in the middle of the eighth fairway with an eight-iron in my hands and missed the green right and made bogey. In the
middle of the ninth fairway I had a seven-iron in my hand, missed the green right again and made bogey there. I was then very quick to lose patience with myself and I kind of lost control of the ball and couldn't get it going on the back nine."
A dejected McDowell said he isn’t having much fun despite his caddie urging him to enjoy himself. "He [caddie] said, 'let's go and have a good time out there.’ But it's hard to have a
good time when I am trying so desperately hard this week to get in the mix.”
This week’s event is McDowell’s fifth-straight tournament. A string of high finishes in recent weeks put him in position to pass Kaymer in Dubai. In his past six events, he has one fifth-place
finish, two third-place finishes, and a win.
After his disappointing round, he wouldn’t admit defeat, saying he had a plan for the evening. "It's not over. Going 65-65 at the weekend is not out of the question. I just have to rest.
I have got to somehow go out and relax and have a good time, maybe have a few beers tonight and hang out by the hotel pool."
Tags: