GRAEME MCDOWELL HAS boosted his chances of automatic qualification for the Ryder Cup by retaining his French Open title in Paris this afternoon.
The Northern Irishman has pocketed a cheque of €500,000 for winning Le Golf National for the second year in succession. The tournament looked to be heading towards a playoff but Kevin Stadler, the overnight leader, three-putted on 18 to hand McDowell the title.
Starting, this morning, nine shots back from the American golfer, McDowell did his part to put the pressure on. He birdied two holes on his front nine to reach -3 while Stadler — son of Major-winner Craig Stadler — reached the turn in 41, +5 for his day.
A Stadler birdie on 11 was book-ended with further bogeys. He birdied 14 to give him hope of catching McDowell who, at that stage, was finishing strongly. The Portrush native carded three more birdies, amid inclement playing conditions,but bogeyed the last to sign off for a closing total of -5.
That dropped shot looked to be crucial as Stadler picked one up with a birdie on 16. He parred the next hole and had a 20-foot putt on the last to win the tournament outright. He ran that effort two feet past and then missed out on his par in dramatic circumstances.
Fellow Northern Irishman Michael Hoey clinched a place in The British Open by finishing tied for fifth on -2. Damien McGrane was in contention for another Open slot but bogeyed four of his closing six holes to drop down the leaderboard.
McDowell showed climb into the top 10 positions of the European Points List for the Ryder Cup but he may need to keep up his current hot streak to claim an automatic [top four] slot.
Not really fair when you remember that Sligo were kicked out of the championship last year for the same reasons
@Tom McBride: totally agree.
@Tom McBride: nobody cares about lesser teams. It’s all about the big few.
@Homes: Absolutely, no way would any teams outside of Div 1 or 2 have a game rescheduled for the same. Nonsense.
@Homes: Tyrone hardly in the “big few” these days are they??
Can you imagine the sledging that will go on. The Tyrone backs sneezing on top of the kerry forwards etc
@James Beattie: lol. Didn’t think of that. Hilarious haha
Up Kerry!
Would the Tyrone team not be vaccinated yet?
@Gerard Browne: can still have covid
@John O Reilly: I know that but if everybody is vaccinated there’s no need to quarantine?
@Gerard Browne: still have to isolate even if fully vaccinated!
@Darren Mullins: if positive yes but not if a close contact as you become a casual contact if vaccinated or is it different in the UK?
@Darren Mullins: Makes the point of getting the vaccine pretty pointless so
@Gerard Browne: with the vaccine you only get a milder dose of covid
@Gerard Browne: If you call significantly reducing your chances of death or serious illness then ya, pointless
Tyrone should have been thrown out
Good call. Even though I have to do a week of late shifts to get Sunday off!
Sligo couldn’t field a team and were punished , Tyrone should be out of the all Ireland series . Broke covid rules kick them out
@Greg: they didnt break any covid rules. Cork u20s were given a similar postponent this season for the same reason.
@Kieran Lynch: where did they celebrate after Ulster Final?
Rte just announced it being postponed for a week. Final moves to September 4th.
@Kieran Campbell: Saturday???
@John McCabe: Yeah Sat 4th Sept. Most likely a 6:30-7pm kick off too, so they can accommodate for the Ireland vs Azerbaijan game in Lansdowne which kicks off at 5 bells on Saturday as well.
@Ultan Corcoran: I believe the All Ireland Final will have a ‘throw in’, and the other match at the Aviva will have a’kick off’
NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
This bl00dy virus has stopped being a joke when it interferes with GAA all ireland.