Late birdies from Graeme McDowell take him to T2
Rory McIlroy said that Northern Ireland is the capital of Golf. Well his claims may prove to be true as Graeme McDowell just closed in on the leader, Adam Scott, on Saturday, at the Royal Lytham.
The fact that Northern Ireland has produced three different major winners in the last two years is simply amazing.
In the third round, the Irishman had an even par score after the first nine holes but on the back nine he was simply on fire. Birdies on the 13th, 14th and 17th meant that he is right there on the leader board, contending
for the Claret Jug.
Throughout the tournament McDowell had been in good form, shooting three straight rounds of under 70. Graeme knows what it takes to win a major. He won the 2010 US Open Championship.
The tournament is still wide open, despite the fact that Adam Scott has a four-shot lead. Tiger Woods is sitting on 6-under after shooting 70 in the third. Following him are the American Zach Johnson and 2002 Open winner Ernie Els.
Being the only British golfer having any chance of securing the Open Championship means that Graeme McDowell will enjoy the support of the crowd. This might play to his disadvantage as well but it is good to have support nonetheless.
The Irishman was extremely happy about his performance in the third round.
He said, “Since I was a young boy I dreamed of coming down that last fairway on a Sunday afternoon, the last group in The Open Championship. And I can draw on my experiences at the Olympic Club a few weeks ago, in the last group of the US Open”.
“So this is special for me in back-to-back Major championships to be in the last group on a Sunday afternoon. It’s been a lot of fun to be out there”.
McDowell is an experienced player who knows how to go about things but the way Scott is playing, luck must favour him if he has to land in his first Open Title.
On Sunday, heavier winds are expected, which means that players will have to be just a little extra care full while making the tee shots.
Tags: