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2020 European Tour: Recapping the start of the season

By Matt Coles

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - JANUARY 24: Lee Westwood of England and his caddy walk to the seventeenth green during Day Two of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club on January 24, 2020 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - JANUARY 24: Lee Westwood of England and his caddy walk to the seventeenth green during Day Two of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club on January 24, 2020 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images) /
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Graeme McDowell ended a six-year victory drought on the European Tour with a win at the 2020 Saudi International
KING ABDULLAH ECONOMIC CITY, SAUDI ARABIA – FEBRUARY 02: Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland poses with the trophy during Day 4 of the Saudi International at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club on February 02, 2020 in King Abdullah Economic City, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images) /

Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers

The final event of the ‘desert swing’ saw another experienced campaigner break a long-running drought on the European Tour, as Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell took the victory at the Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers.

Going into the final round of the event, the 2010 U.S. Open champion held a one-shot lead, having shot sub-69 in each of the first three rounds of the event at Royal Greens GC.

However, he would not have it all his own way in the final round, as he faltered at stages, but a great run of pars and birdies on the back nine allowed him to come down the final hole knowing he had shots in hand to take a first European Tour title for almost five years.

He did so, with a par at the 18th, winning the Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers by two shots, with defending winner Dustin Johnson finishing runner-up.

The result in King Abdullah Economic City saw McDowell move into 3rd spot on the Race to Dubai leaderboard, ahead of the three men who finished in a tie for 2nd at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA, and behind only Westwood and Herbert.

Saudi International powered by SBIA Leaderboard:

1 (-12): Graeme McDowell (NIR)

2 (-10): Dustin Johnson (USA)

T3 (-9): Gavin Green (MAS), Thomas Pieters (BEL), Phil Mickelson (USA)

Race to Dubai Standings (after 7/46 events):

1: Lee Westwood (ENG) – 1,183.2

2: Lucas Herbert (AUS) – 767.6

3: Graeme McDowell (NIR) – 710.0

4: Victor Perez (FRA) – 604.5

5: Tommy Fleetwood (ENG) – 592.0

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