McDowell seeks Hong Kong gong and first win for nearly four years
SINGAPORE: L-R – James Leow of Singapore, Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland, Andy Ogletree of the USA and Charl Schwartzel of South Africa pictured during a press conference on Wednesday October 4, 2023, ahead of the International Series Singapore at the Tanah Merah Country Club (Tampines Course). The US$2 million Asian Tour event is staged from October 5-8, 2023. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Graeme McDowell carded a four-under 66 to go into the final round of the Hong Kong Open with a chance of claiming his first for nearly four years.
Now a free agent as he is no longer under contract at the LIV Golf League and is now waiting to discover his LIV future during the transfer window, the 2010 US Open champion (44) is tied for seventh on 12-under-par.
He's just four shots behind the 2022 Open champion Cameron Smith and Thailand's Phachara Khongwatmai.
McDowell, whose last win came in the DP World Tour's Saudi International in January 2020 — three years, nine months and nine days ago — has recorded just one top 10 finish worldwide since he signed up with LIV Golf last year.
He tied for third in the Asian Tour's BNI Indonesian Masters almost a year ago but has failed to shine with LIV Golf, with his best result, a 13th-place finish in the opening event of 2023 at Mayakoba.
After spending nearly 400 weeks in the world's top 50 and winning 16 professional events worldwide, the Rathmore man has slipped to 663rd in the world due to LIV’s lack of OWGR points.
Considered a certainty to be involved with LIV Golf in 2024 he faces a tough task to get his first win since 2020 after Smith carded a five-under 65 to share the lead with Phachara, who shot 66.
But after finishing tied for 13th in last week's Volvo China Open, the Portrush man will have high hopes for Sunday, and next week's BNI Indonesian Masters at Royale Jakarta.
Smith and Khongwatmai lead by a shot on 16-under-par from New Zealand's Ben Campbell, who carded 65, and by two shots from Chinese Taipei's Max Lee Chieh-po, who came in with a 66.
The Australian, who has won twice on the LIV Golf League this year, had an erratic day off the tee and dropped a late shot with a hook into the trees at the 16th before making birdie at the next.
"Hit a really crappy shot off the tee," Smith said. "Didn't feel comfortable with the long stuff all day today. So little bit of work to do overnight, I think, and get it back to where it should be, and it will be fine tomorrow.
"I need to tighten up the driver and the stuff off the tee. I didn't hit as many fairways today, which led to more missed greens. It was a bit of a grind out there today.
"Hopefully, it can be stress-free tomorrow. I found parts of the course I don't want to see ever again."
McDowell missed just one fairway at tight Hong Kong Golf Club and found 14 greens in regulation as he made five birdies, with his only dropped shot coming after a three-putt at the fourth.
