GRAEME MCDOWELL has boosted his British Open prospects with a brilliant final round to win the 2014 French Open.
McDowell overturned an eight shot deficit to successfully defend a tournament for the first time in his distinguished career.
The Northern Irishman shrugged off some miserable weather conditions to retain his Alstom Open de France title, carding a closing 67 at Le Golf National, the joint-lowest round on a wet and windy day, to finish the tournament on 5-under.
The former US Open Champion still needed American Kevin Stadler to miss from two feet for par on the 18th, an effort which would have forced a sudden death play-off.
“I’m very surprised,” McDowell said after claiming his tenth European Tour title. “Midway through my second glass of red wine last night, when I was very disappointed with my back-nine performance on Saturday, I really didn’t think I’d be a) standing here with an opportunity to be in a play-off and b) with a trophy in my hands.”
Stadler’s closing 76 left him in a tie for second with Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee, who dropped five shots in the first four holes but played the remainder in four under for a 72. They finished at 4-under.
Australia’s best was Wade Ormsby, who signed for a final round 1-over 72 to finish at 2-over in outright 11th place.
McDowell is happy with where is body and game are at ahead of some of the big golf events of the year, particularly the British Open, which gets underway at Royal Liverpool in Hoylake, England, July 17 – 20.
“… my body has probably never been in as good a shape at this point in the season coming into two Major Championships, the FedEx Cup play-offs and hopefully The Ryder Cup,’ the 34 year old said.
“I’m very proud to defend my first title ever and this is the boost I needed on many fronts, especially The Ryder Cup (the win takes him tenth on the European points list).”
McDowell, who held the outright lead after the first round of The Open the last time it was held at Hoylake in 2006, added: “I was at Hoylake a couple of weeks ago.
“I think it’s my type of set-up. You really have to find fairways off the tee and there are big flat greens where you can hole some putts. This is a nice confidence booster and I will be back at Hoylake next Sunday ready to go.”
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