G-Mac — “It's going to cost me another very expensive bottle of wine”

Graeme McDowell. Picture: LIV Golf

Graeme McDowell was happy to face another hefty wine bill after making a hole-in-one for the second week running on the LIV Golf League.

The Portrush man (46) made the sixth ace of his competitive career in a second round 63 at LIV Golf Hong Kong last week.

But just seve days later, he now has seven aces in competition after holing out with a nine-iron on the 168-yard second (his 15th) at Sentosa Golf Club at LIV Golf Singapore.

“I just missed a shorty (for par) on one, was trying to stay nice and patient,” McDowell said.

“And I hit a lovely nine-iron right at the hole on two, shouting for it to go, and then some sweat came down and blurred my eyes, and I didn't even see it go in.

“It cost me a very expensive bottle of wine last week in Hong Kong, and I guess it's going to cost me another very expensive bottle of wine, which I look forward to.”

By coincidence, his latest ace also came playing to a front-right pin position.

“Yeah, front rights, I guess. It was a seven-iron in Hong Kong, only a nine-iron today,” McDowell said. “Yeah, listen, it was nice. Cleans the scorecard up quite nicely.

“That third tee shot is normally quite difficult, but post hole-in-one, it's a lot more difficult. I was happy to see that get in the fairway on three, as well.

“But another tricky day out here. Such a great golf course. It really keeps you on your toes. Hole-in-ones, they certainly help.”

McDowell went on to card a one-under 70 that left him tied for 15th on three-under, seven shots behind leader Bryson DeChambeau.

The big-hitting American carded a six-under 65 to lead by three shots on 10-under from Thomas Detry, Louis Oosthuizen, Jon Rahm, Lee Westwood and wildcard Richard T. Lee.

Tom McKibbin was joint 24th on one under, nine shots off the lead, after a one-over 72 But his Legion XIII team was lurking in second place, just three shots behind DeChambeau’s Crushers GC, in the team standings.