IRISHMAN GRAEME MCDOWELL was dejected after a poor final day at the British Open last night but insisted he’ll take the lessons from the day.
McDowell — the 2010 US Open champion — started the final round at Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club in Lancashire, England, in a tie for second, four shots behind leader Adam Scott.
But a five-over-par 75 on Sunday saw McDowell drop to a tie for fifth, five shots behind eventual winner Ernie Els of South Africa.
The world number 12 tied for second at this year’s US Open and remained upbeat despite the disappointment, insisting that the experience he had gained over the last few months would hold him in good stead for the future.
“It was a tough day at the office, no doubt about it,” McDowell said. ”The birdie on eight followed by a mis-club on nine (and then I was) chasing it a little bit on eleven (where he made another bogey). Disappointment – but a great experience.
“It’s (a major win) not far away, though. I am taking the positives away from today, you can’t buy that type of education I’ve just had today and that education I had five weeks ago at Olympic (US Open). You just can’t buy that. I’ll bank those experiences and I’ll move on and just know that if I keep putting myself in contention that someday it will be my day.
“I don’t like to blame luck. It’s not about luck. But the first nine holes at Olympic (on Sunday) and the first nine holes today, I just didn’t get the rub of the green. That’s key for momentum, especially when you’ve got a guy four shots ahead of you today; you’ve got to go out there and try and catch him.”
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The final day was marred by Scott’s horrific finish, with the Australian throwing away a four-shot lead with four holes to play. McDowell — who played in the same group as Scott — spoke to him briefly after the day’s play had ended, and admitted he was lost for meaningful words. The Ulsterman does believe Scott will bounce back from the defeat though and has backed him to win ‘many majors’ in the future.
“It was tough to say anything to him that was going to be of any relevance,” he said. ”I said he’s a great champion and I said there’s many majors ahead for him. It’s just a tough beat.
“He struggled on the greens a little bit today, as we all did. He’s going to be extremely heartbroken and disappointed, but he’s a great, great, great player, and that’s what I tried to convey to him on the last green. Like I say, it felt like a futile exercise trying to say anything to him, but I’m sure he’s going to be unbelievably disappointed.”
