Graeme McDowell looking to complete hat-trick mission in French Open

Phil Casey 11:05 02/07/2015
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  • Graeme McDowell will look to write his name in the record books by securing a hat-trick of wins in the Alstom Open de France at Le Golf National this week.

    McDowell successfully defended a title for the first time in his career 12 months ago and would become the first player since Marcel Dallemagne in 1938 to win Continental Europe’s oldest Open three times in succession with another victory.

    The Ryder Cup star would also become just the sixth player, after Ian Woosnam, Nick Faldo, Colin Montgomerie, Tiger Woods and Ernie Els, to claim a hat-trick of European Tour titles in the same event.

    “Having a chance to win a tournament three times in a row is very special,” McDowell said. “I’ve always enjoyed this golf course, right back in the early days when I would come here.”

    McDowell, who won by four shots in 2013, overturned an eight-shot deficit in the final round last year thanks to a brilliant closing 67. He did get plenty of help from American Kevin Stadler, who lost his four-shot overnight lead with a front-nine 41, and then missed a par from two feet on the 18th hole that would have forced a play-off.

    “The two wins were obviously very different,” added the 2010 US Open champion. “You always like to win a tournament, as opposed to being given it to a certain extent.

    “So from that point of view, I guess 2013 was a bit more special than 2014. But winning a title back to back is also very special.
    “I’d have much rather won in a play-off in the end last year, but you take what you’re given I suppose.”

    McDowell has recorded just one top-10 finish on the European Tour in 2015, in the Dubai Desert Classic in February, and missed the cut in the US Open in his last event.

    The 35-year-old Northern Irishman admits there have been welcome distractions in his life since the birth of his first child last September, but insists his game is heading in the right direction.

    “Really I have to start the ball rolling again and start that momentum gathering,” McDowell added. “I feel a lot happier where I am mentally now than where I was four or five months ago.

    “I know I’m good enough and I know that if I keep doing what I’m doing, things will come back.”

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