'It's been a rough few years': Graeme McDowell wins Puntacana Championship to claim first title since 2015
Graeme McDowell ended his near four-year title drought yesterday, at the same time as making it a historic stretch for his continent.
The Northern Irishman’s victory in the Puntacana Championship was the fourth PGA Tour win by a European golfer in as many weeks - a record for the blue-and-gold brigade.
McDowell emulated Francesco Molinari (Arnold Palmer Invitational), Rory McIlroy (The Players) and PauL Casey (Valspar Championship) with gusty one-shot success over the American Chris Stroud.
It was a extremely welcome and well-timed comeback for the 2010 US Open champion, not least because it earns back the full playing privileges on the US circuit that he lost last year.
McDowell, 39, went into the Dominic Republic outside the world’s top 250, the worst ranking in 16 years for a player who reached as high as fourth. He will now rise inside the top 140.
"This is for the people who stood by me," McDowell said, after a final-round 69 for an 18-under total. "It's been a grind for my whole family, my wife, my kids back home. It's been a rough few years. Bu this win is going to go a long way towards getting me back to where I want to be in the game. Back in the top 50, top 100 in the world, competing on a week to week basis against the best players.”
There was also an emotional comeback win on the European Tour. Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher was victorious at the Indian Open, the 44-year-old’s first title in more than five years.
