The 40-year-old Graeme McDowell used all his experience and stayed patient to finish at 12-under, two shots clear of defending champion Dustin Johnson (67).
The win ended McDowell’s nearly six-year long title drought on the European Tour. His last win came at the Open de France in 2014. It was McDowell’s 11th European Tour victory and 16thoverall and they have come in 12 different countries.
“I hope this win will do for me what the Abu Dhabi win did for my friend, Shane Lowry last year. It was great of him to be there to congratulate me,” said McDowell.
India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar had another average day with 71 and finished at 3-over 283 and was Tied-67th. He had two birdies and three bogeys. Shubhankar Sharma missed the cut.
McDowell suffered a stumble with bogeys on ninth and 13thto fall to 10-under before he picked birdies on 14tth and 15thand came to 18thwith a three-shot cushion.
McDowell, who shared the lead with Green on the first day and was in the news on the second day when he was given a ‘bad time’ after taking 84 seconds (as against mandated 50) on his second shot on Par-4 sixth hole, ensured there were no hiccups on Sunday. Despite Johnson jumping to -10 and sole second with an eagle on 18th. It was Johnson’s second eagle of the day in his 67.
McDowell calmly putted out for par on the hole and the round, to complete a fine win and rose to inside Top-50 of the world.
