Second again for G-Mac in QBE Shootout
Graeme McDowell salutes the heavens after his near ace at the 12th in the final round of the QBE Shootout in Florida
Graeme McDowell had to settle for a $265,000 Christmas bonus when he finished runner-up for the third time in his career the 54-hole QBE Shootout in Florida.
Second with Darren Clarke in 2010 and with Shane Lowry last year in the 54-hole team strokeplay event, he looked set to pocket his share of the $845,000 top prize with Argentina's Emiliano Grillo when they birdied seven holes in a row on the back nine to take the lead.
But Patton Kizzire and Brian Harman eagled the 17th at Tiburon Golf Club's Gold Course in Naples to edge in front on 30-under par in the final round fourball betterball having played a scramble and scotch foursomes on the previous two days.
McDowell had a nine footer for a closing birdie to tie for the lead and potentially force a playoff. But as he missed and finished on 29-under with Grillo after a 62, Kirrire and Harman safely parred the 18th to card a 61 and win by one stroke to take home $422,500 each.
It was a positive week for McDowell, nevertheless, as he produced some of his best golf on the final day, almost acing the 12th and holing more than his share of putts.
While he’s currently 231st in the world from a career high of fourth in 2011, he will be looking to bounce back before he turns 40 in July with June’s US Open at Pebble Beach, scene of his maiden Major win in 2010, sure to be underlined in red on his calendar.
On the European Tour, Louis Oosthuizen fought back tears after he recovered from a shaky start to clinch an emotional first victory in the South African Open hosted by the City of Johannesburg.
The 2010 Open champion made two early bogeys and saw his three-shot overnight lead cut to one stroke after just three holes of the final round at Randpark Golf Club.
But he played the remaining holes in six under to card a closing 67 and win by six strokes from Frenchman Romain Langasque on 18-under par.
“I wish the family was here,” Oosthuizen said as he choked back tears on the 18th green. “The crowd was great this whole week, it was nice to do it for them.
“I knew today was either going to be very special or heartbreaking. I know there's only a few that have won The Open and the SA Open so I'm very chuffed to have my name on this."
Langasque's closing 66 earned him one of three spots in The Open Championship at Royal Portrush with 2011 Masters Tournament winner Charl Schwartzel and England's Oliver Wilson.
Schwartzel (72) and Wilson (67) tied for third alongside South Africans Thomas Aiken and Bryce Easton on 10-under, clinching their spots in The Open thanks to their superior world ranking.
Schwartzel, who was also seeking his first win in his national open, was disappointed to come up short but pleased to book his spot in The Open.
“It’s a nice bonus,” he said. “I was hoping to do better in this tournament, but I’m still happy that I get to play The Open in Northern Ireland which will be really nice."
On the Staysure Tour, Paul McGinley tied for fourth as Clark Dennis equalled the senior tour’s 54-hole scoring record en route to an eight-stroke win over Swede Magnus P Atlevi in the MCB Tour Championship – Mauritius.
The American went bogey-free all week, closing with an eight-under-par 64 to finish on 23 under par and match Thaworn Wiratchant's winning total last year.
Roger Chapman shot 67 to claim third place outright on 13 under par and make the top 29 available players from the Order of Merit who secured spots alongside invitees, Tom Lehman, David Frost and Marc Farry in this week's season-ending MCB Tour Championship – Seychelles.
McGinley, who is skipping the Seychelles, shot 69 to tied for fourth with Welshman Phillip Price on 12-under, claiming €22,897 to finish 25th in the money list with €81,903 from just six starts.
However, Headfort's Brendan McGovern (€1,963) finished 49th in the 50-man field on nine-over after a closing 76.
Fifth reserve for the final event, the Dubliner (53) faces a return to Q-School as he was 38th on the money list with €56,384 from 17 events, nearly €60,000 outside the top 20 who will be fully exempt next season.
It will be a good season for the European seniors next year with the news that the United States Golf Association (USGA) has expanded two exemption categories for the US Senior Open.
Set to be held at The Warren Golf Course on the campus of the University Notre Dame in Indiana from June 27-30, the Staysure Tour, formerly known as the European Senior Tour, will now have the top 10 money winners (expanded from the top six) earn exemptions into the US Senior Open.
The Japan Senior Tour will expand from the top two money winners to four.
