Graeme McDowell With A Share Of The Lead In Maylasia

By Les Bailey | Feb 5, 2015

May 9, 2014; Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, USA; Graeme McDowell tees off on the 6th hole during the second round of The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass – Stadium Course. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

US Open Champ, Graeme McDowell and 2014 Maybank Malaysian Open champ, Lee Westwood ended their Desert Swing with matching T9’s in Dubai last week, and finished up the first round in Malaysia in a tie for the lead. Both had almost identical cards at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club on Thursday with seven birdies and one bogey each. They even bogeyed the same hole.

The two were Ryder Cup partners at Gleneagles last September, and on six under par, have a one-shot lead over a pretty good field of European Tour players on a somewhat windy day in Malaysia.

I was fairly happy with the way everything looked coming into the new year

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Lee Westwood made a run at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic last week, but a triple bogey on Sunday took him off the front page of the leaderboard. McDowell played well in his first outing of the year, but had nothing for the winner, Rory McIlroy.

The popular Northern Irishman, who now lives in the Orlando area has only one win since his 2013 victory at the RBC Heritage, that coming last July at the Alstom Open de France.

McDowell has put in the work this winter to get his golf game back into winning form where he was when he won the US Open at Pebble Beach in 2010. Life and a marriage seems to have side-tracked the 35 year-old Ulstermen, but he has vowed to get back to the winners circle this year.

"“I was fairly happy with the way everything looked coming into the new year,” said the 35 year old Ryder Cup star. “I did a lot of work off the course over the winter improving some things physically and in my swing, and things seem to be clicking really well.“It’s early days, but I’m feeling relaxed and my attitude’s good. If I can continue that for the rest of the year then good things will happen.”"

Starting his day on the back nine, McDowell missed a short five-foot putt at the eighth hole that would have given him the outright lead.

"“I’m pretty happy,” added McDowell. “I hit the ball great today – drove it well and gave myself a lot of looks for birdie.“Generally I’m very, very happy with that start. I’ve enjoyed the way this golf course looks from the start and I enjoyed playing it this morning with good company from the boys – it’s a solid start."

A trio of players are one-shot back at five under which includes, Tommy Fleetwood. The young Brit made five birdies on the day and went bogey-free. He is joined in third place with local, Danny Chia from Malaysia, and South Korean, Sunghoon Kang.

2014 Ryder Cup Captain, Paul McGinley fired a three under 69 in the opening round, and joins a host of players at three under. McGinley made five birdies on the day, three in a row as he made the turn from the back nine to the front, but two bogeys took him off the front page of the leaderboard.

Other notables include Stephen Gallacher who finished tied with McGinley on three under par, and a large group of young stars at two under on the day, and four back as they go into Friday’s second round.

Andy Sullivan, who won the SA Open, and played well during the Desert Swing, Marc Warren, Nicolas Colsaerts, Emiliano Grillo, the young Argentine, and Bernd Wiesberger, who had the best aggregate finishes in the middle East with no victories.

Race To Dubai points leader, Danny Willett had a horrible day, withdrawing after the 12th hole with four bogeys, and a birdie on his card. Willett obviously had some physical issues, but there is no report on his status at this writing.

Source and Quotes Courtesy EuropeanTour.com

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