McDowell "mugged" after spectacular ace in New Orleans
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - APRIL 23: Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland reacts to his hole in one on the 17th green during the second round of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans at TPC Louisiana on April 23, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Graeme McDowell was thrilled to be “mugged” by partner Matt Wallace and “attacked” by their caddies after his spectacular first hole-in-one on the PGA Tour kept the European duo in the title race at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
The pair had made a slow start to the second round foursomes at TPC Louisiana when McDowell stepped up at the dangerous, 216-yard 17th (his eighth) and holed a four-hybrid for his first ace in competition on US soil and his fifth as a professional.
“I haven't seen the replay yet, but I had sort of taken my eye off the ball because I was just fairly relieved that it was on line,” McDowell said of a shot that landed at the front of the green on a hole protected on the left by water before running up the green and into the cup.
“I think my partner was reasonably relieved, as well. This golf course is so great because there's so many opportunities, but there's half a dozen shots where you have to stand up and hit a shot, and 17 is obviously one of those today.”
The pair ended up carding a two-under 70 that left them tied for ninth on eight-under, just four shots behind Cameron Champ and Tony Finau and Norwegians Viktor Hovland and Kris Ventura.
“I was kind of between clubs. I was between a four and a three and I just felt like three —it’s a hybrid and it's pretty strong — was a lot of club and I decided to try and hit a four and pitch it in the front half of the green and sort of take my medicine and get out of there.
WHAT A FEELING!!!!!!! @mattsjwallace @Zurich_Classic pic.twitter.com/1zgjw386BI
— Graeme McDowell (@Graeme_McDowell) April 23, 2021
“And it came out perfectly, and I think I said to it, somehow get up, like as in get back there to the flag. I picked my tee up and walked over to the bag and I could hear the crowd starting to go, and obviously when it dropped in, my playing partner mugged me and the caddies all attacked me.
“I was sort of in a state of disbelief because I was just relieved to get the ball on dry land there, and it was cool. It was a nice little shot in the arm for us, and we birdied the next, and we put ourselves in a nice little slot going into the weekend.
“Really enjoyed playing with this guy this week. It's been a lot of fun. He's been a breath of fresh air and some great intensity and energy for me to week, so really enjoying ourselves.”
McDowell reckons he’s had 14 holes in one since he made his first as a junior playing in the Sunday medal on the Valley Course at Royal Portrush as a teenager.
“Sunday medal, Rathmore. I kind of had like a solid fourball on the weekend with three adults, and we always split the twos,” he recalled. “You know, you put a pound in for the twos and you split the balls, but you hole in one you win all the balls, so my fourball was very happy with me. I remember it, it was on No. 3 at the Valley at Rathmore, nine-iron. Little baby cut nine-iron in.”
Reminded last night that his hole in one will not count as official on the PGA Tour as it came in team play, McDowell said: “Official? I don't care if it's official, unofficial. I'm pretty sure it says 1 on the scorecard.”
He’s had another four on the European Tour having racked up many more as an amateur.
“I think my running total is around 14,” he said. “It's weird, the better I get, the fewer I make. I'm not sure what it is. I felt like I made more when I was a kid.
“I’m not sure what you're like, but I guess playing easier courses -- that's probably what it was. When you're a kid you're playing easier courses and a lot more wedges in your hand.
Get out on the PGA Tour, 200-220-yard par-3s, it's tough to make them.”
McDowell still has high hopes of making Pádraig Harrington’s Ryder Cup team and he reckons Wallace could be a Ryder Cup star,
“This guy is going to play many Ryder Cups, no doubt about it, and I think stuff like this is really important,” McDowell said. “I genuinely believe there should be a 72-hole stroke foursomes tournament, alternate-shot tournament, just pure alternate-shot, because I kind of believe it's like the purest form of the game.
“There’s nothing more difficult than having to hit one and then hand it over to your partner and then having him hand it back to you.
“It's a fun game, and to me it's something I think the Europeans are pretty good at in the Ryder Cup generally because we play a lot of it growing up actually, like in international golf, in amateur golf.
“I think it's a great format, and like I say, it's nerve-racking, but I think this guy is going to play plenty of Ryder Cups, and these weeks are really important for him to get ready for those days.”McDowell "mugged" after spectacular ace
