McDowell slip helps Poulter end three-year drought
Monday November 02 2009
Instead of the reward of travelling onto Shanghai, Graeme McDowell finds himself heading home after the disappointment of letting victory slip in the Singapore Open.
McDowell led the inaugural co-sanctioned European and Asian Tour event with just four holes to play before three successive bogeys from the 14th hole led to a three-over-par 74 for a seven-under-par tally on the Sentosa course.
The Portrush player finished in a share of fifth place and three strokes behind England's Ian Poulter who ended a three-year European Tour winless drought to win by a stroke.
The new World Number 15 recorded a one-over-par closing round of 72 to win from China's Wen-chong Liang (70) while the Australian duo of Scott Hend (68) and Adam Scott (69) were next best on eight under par.
Poulter's prize cheque of €554,127 is the richest on the European Tour and has lifted him from 29th to 10th on the Race to Dubai money list, and to third on the 2010 Ryder Cup European points table.
And after being afforded a controversial 'wildcard' pick for the last Ryder Cup, Poulter is now determined to earn a third team cap by qualifying automatically.
"I'm not too sure if Colin (Montgomerie) has been watching this week's event but he will quickly know the result and hopefully he would be pleased for me," said Poulter.
McDowell recorded his best result, and only his second top 10 in 21 Race to Dubai events this year, to earn €119,027.
It's lifted McDowell to 31st on the money list and into 20th place on the European Ryder Cup points table.
"It's very disappointing because I walked up onto the 14th green and noticed I was leading by one but I just seemed to give myself too much to do on a relentless golf course," he said.
"My pace-putting just let me down and then after missing a six-footer on 14 I then found myself just pushing too hard at 15 and by the time I got to 16, I was just frustrated.
"I don't mind going down fighting but it was just great to be back in the mix.
"So when the dust settles on this event I can look back and know I played great this week especially the second and third rounds but this steamy weather and the golf course have made for a very tough week both physically and mentally.
"I would be love to be going to Shanghai this week but 'Poults' has hung in well and chalked another win up, so well done because he also is a good friend of mine."
Victory would have earned McDowell a place in Thursday's starting $7m WGC/HSBC Champions event in Shanghai but instead, McDowell will spend the week in Portrush before heading back out to the Far East for next week's UBS Hong Kong Open.
Peter Lawrie (74) was next best of the Irish in 24th spot on two under par while Padraig Harrington carded a closing 69 to end 14 places lower down the board at level par.
"I didn't play great for most of the week and I didn't make too many things happen, so it just wasn't my week," said Harrington.
Harrington's effort did little for his Race to Dubai No1 aspirations as he dropped a place to 17th on the money list.
Darren Clarke rounded off the Irish in carding a 75 for a six-over-par total.
- Bernie McGuire in Singapore
Irish Independent
