Advertisement

Sport

Graeme McDowell says triple-bogey made a "good round into a bad one"

Graeme McDowell had been one-under-par before heading down the 474-yard par-four 18th in the first r...
Ben Finnegan
Ben Finnegan

9:24 AM - 19 Jul 2019



Graeme McDowell says triple-bo...

Sport

Graeme McDowell says triple-bogey made a "good round into a bad one"

Ben Finnegan
Ben Finnegan

9:24 AM - 19 Jul 2019



Graeme McDowell had been one-under-par before heading down the 474-yard par-four 18th in the first round of the Open Championship at Royal Portrush - before he triple-bogeyed.

It left him on two-over-par for the tournament heading into the second round at the County Antrim golf club, saying it made a "good round into a bad one".

The one-time major winner at Pebble Beach in 2010 said after his round that, "I've got to not let this spoil my week because it could easily spoil my week. I feel like all the air has been let out of the sails, plus some, you know the ship sails feel like it's sinking.

"It's important to regroup, got a big day tomorrow, and a big weekend ahead. It's important I take the positives, I played beautifully. Ball striking was really solid, hit a lot of nice shots.

"The last was just one of those things, it's a tough hole. There's not a blade of grass on the golf course that looks like that stuff down the right of 18. Potentially, a little artificially done, but you shouldn't be over there in the first place. Gutted obviously, but it is what it is."

Graeme McDowell, who grew up in Portrush spoke about how he felt teeing up on the first hole at an Open Championship at a course he lived near when he was younger, "I'm more emotional now than I was six hours ago.

"It was always going to be the first tee, it was always going to be difficult this morning. Like I say, I played beautifully all day, really handled the course well, on what was a tricky day out there today. The weather forecast looks a little better for the next couple of days. It's important I focus on the good stuff from today, and not let that seven beat me up.

"I had a good round going, did the right thing on 17 and make five there. And then, make seven up the last and turn a good round into a bad one. There's nothing to say, I played lovely"



Read more about

Antrim Day One Graeme McDowell Open Championship Royal Portrush

You might like