Graeme McDowell will be helped by an imminent change in the membership requirements on the European Tour but in the numbers game that is professional golf and business, his PGA Tour career is his priority simply because it pays better.
Padraig Harrington admits he needs a break. Picture: Fran Caffrey www.golffile.iePadraig Harrington has won three majors. And if he fails to shoot 63 in the final round of the Turkish Airlines Open and qualify for the DP World Tour Championship next week, he will still have three majors.
Padraig Harrington watches the flight of a tee shot in Turkey. Picture Stuart Adams www.golftourimages.com: On the face of it, Darren Clarke and Padraig Harrington are in the twilight years of their careers at the elite level but both still have much to offer as they bid to recapture the sparkle of old.
Darren Clarke at this year’s US PGA. Picture: Eoin Clarke www.golffile.ieStarting again at 45 is tough enough for a major winner like Darren Clarke. But it’s going to an even steeper climb for Cork’s John McHenry as he bids to qualify for the Champions Tour.
The practice ground of Royal Portrush may soon boast a new structure - a roof for Darren Clarke’s practice tee. When the R&A’s Peter Dawson shot down hopes of an imminent return of The Open to Royal Portrush, he pointed to a long list of improvements that needed to be made.
Graeme McDowell misses a putt in Abu Dhabi at the start of the season. Picture Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ieGraeme McDowell took 34 putts in a one over 71 to miss the cut by two shots in The McGladrey Classic.
It was his seventh missed cut of the year, the others coming in Bay Hill, The Masters, New Orleans, the BMW PGA, The Open and the US PGA.
McDowell’s putting was sensational last year. His maiden major win in the US Open was one of four wins worldwide while he also holed a crucial putt to help Europe win back the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor.
This year it has been far less reliable but he can still turn a poor season into an acceptable one over the last three months of the year.
Padraig Harrington is targeting victory in the Portugal Masters. Photo Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.iePadraig Harrington has played in 38 World Golf Championship events - more than any other player. But if he doesn’t win the Portugal Masters this week or add the Andalucia Masters to his schedule and win that instead of playing in a clashing, $5 million invitational for 30 players in China, he’s unlikely to make it 39 appearances in next month’s WGC-HSBC Champions.
