A year that changed McDowell's life
Source: Agencies |
December 3, 2010, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
TIGER Woods believes the turmoil in his personal life, no matter how much it cost him in money and marriage and mystique, made him a better person.
The distractions for Woods did wonders for Graeme McDowell, too, in a way few could have imagined.
McDowell was on his way home from China a year ago when he was a last-minute alternate in the Chevron World Challenge for Woods, whose troubles were just starting.
Little did McDowell know that his runner-up finish was the start of a life-changing year.
It was the first year the Chevron World Challenge awarded world ranking points. McDowell earned enough to narrowly be exempt for the US Open, which he won by one shot for his first major.
That US Open victory put him on the Ryder Cup team, and McDowell delivered the biggest putt of his life on the 16th hole of Celtic Manor in October to win the decisive match for Europe.
"If I don't finish second at the Chevron here last year, perhaps I miss the US Open, and perhaps I'm not sitting here right now after having a dream season," McDowell said. "It's kind of weird how small things can shape a year."
He will get back to Northern Ireland for the holidays later this month, and maybe then he will finally have a chance to reflect on a year that will be hard to top, a major champion and Ryder Cup hero.
For now, he has a few tournaments left this season, starting with the one that got him started.
McDowell is part of an 18-man field that tees off at Sherwood Country Club, a tournament that used to be a Christmas bonus for the elite few that were invited to Woods' event.
It is much stronger now, with a US$5 million purse and world ranking points giving it credibility. The field is stronger than the Dubai World Championship last week that ended the European Tour season.
There are enough points that Woods has a chance to regain his No. 1 ranking from Lee Westwood, who is playing in South Africa against a tough field. He would have to win the Chevron World Challenge and have Westwood finish out of the top two to regain the No. 1 ranking.
The odds of that happening are not great based on recent history. Woods has only three top 10s this year, including a fourth-place finish in the Australian Masters last month.
He was hitting the ball better in the pro-am on Wednesday than he has all year, enough to get the attention of his caddie, Steve Williams, who noticed big strides since they last played Down Under.
Woods also has stuck with the Nike putter he used in Australia, with the shaft in the heel to help him release the blade through the ball. He made it sound as though he was ditching the putter that brought him 13 majors.
"It's permanent for this week," he said.
The distractions for Woods did wonders for Graeme McDowell, too, in a way few could have imagined.
McDowell was on his way home from China a year ago when he was a last-minute alternate in the Chevron World Challenge for Woods, whose troubles were just starting.
Little did McDowell know that his runner-up finish was the start of a life-changing year.
It was the first year the Chevron World Challenge awarded world ranking points. McDowell earned enough to narrowly be exempt for the US Open, which he won by one shot for his first major.
That US Open victory put him on the Ryder Cup team, and McDowell delivered the biggest putt of his life on the 16th hole of Celtic Manor in October to win the decisive match for Europe.
"If I don't finish second at the Chevron here last year, perhaps I miss the US Open, and perhaps I'm not sitting here right now after having a dream season," McDowell said. "It's kind of weird how small things can shape a year."
He will get back to Northern Ireland for the holidays later this month, and maybe then he will finally have a chance to reflect on a year that will be hard to top, a major champion and Ryder Cup hero.
For now, he has a few tournaments left this season, starting with the one that got him started.
McDowell is part of an 18-man field that tees off at Sherwood Country Club, a tournament that used to be a Christmas bonus for the elite few that were invited to Woods' event.
It is much stronger now, with a US$5 million purse and world ranking points giving it credibility. The field is stronger than the Dubai World Championship last week that ended the European Tour season.
There are enough points that Woods has a chance to regain his No. 1 ranking from Lee Westwood, who is playing in South Africa against a tough field. He would have to win the Chevron World Challenge and have Westwood finish out of the top two to regain the No. 1 ranking.
The odds of that happening are not great based on recent history. Woods has only three top 10s this year, including a fourth-place finish in the Australian Masters last month.
He was hitting the ball better in the pro-am on Wednesday than he has all year, enough to get the attention of his caddie, Steve Williams, who noticed big strides since they last played Down Under.
Woods also has stuck with the Nike putter he used in Australia, with the shaft in the heel to help him release the blade through the ball. He made it sound as though he was ditching the putter that brought him 13 majors.
"It's permanent for this week," he said.
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