Dec 4th – 7th, 2024

Graeme was in Saudi Arabia at the Riyadh Golf Club for the PIF Saudi International, G-Mac is a past winner having collected the trophy back in 2020.

“It’s always nice to come back to a tournament that you’ve won even though it may be a new course venue,” he said. This is my first time in Riyadh, so it’s always exciting travelling to a new venue for a first occasion, and nice to come back to a tournament and see your picture on billboards and holding a trophy in your hands. It also reminds you coming back to tournaments like this that you also have won in some pretty cool places around the world and it’s been a pretty nice career.”

After a disappointing opening round of 74, Graeme bounced back in style on Day 2 with a six under par 65, sensationally capping his round with an eagle ‘2’ by holing a chip shot at the par-4 third hole – his 12th.

The effort saw McDowell jump just over 50 places from T108th position following a struggling opening three-over 74 to just outside the top-50.

“It was a great turnaround from yesterday and good news in that it has delayed the McDowell Enterprises for 48-hours”, he said smiling.

“I was all rusty yesterday and had a couple of months off but I have been working hard for the past two months but have not hit a lot of balls.

“I took me nine holes to figure out where my swing was at yesterday and while I figured it out a little bit on my back nine yesterday while this morning I hung in there the first nine holes, making the turn at one under and then birdied one and two and holed my second on three and birdied four which was nice.

“So, I was on my surfboard today which was nice and my persistence was rewarded today as it’s difficult to make putts on the greens as they’re not up to the standard we’d like to be.

“They are better in the morning, like this morning, than they are in the afternoon.

“So, happy to hang in there and have another two rounds to play and a really good tournament”.

As McDowell said he capped his round at the 434-yard par-4 third hole where he played a 125-yard gap wedge second shot.

“I then had the putter out walking up the green and I said to Kenny (Comboy – caddy) this could be quite close”, said McDowell.

“It was nice to see the ball in the cup because I just couldn’t get anything going and then all of a sudden it all happened in a flash … birdie, birdie, eagle and birdie”, he said.

“So, it got me back into the tournament which was nice and now looking forward to the closing 36 holes and trying to sign off my year on a bright note”.

On day 3 Graeme battled his way to par his round with a one over par 72, which again dropped him back. It was yo-yo week with Graeme firing a nice 66 ( 5 under) on the final day to finish in T62 on -7 with rounds of 74, 65, 72 and 66.

THE COURSE
Riyadh Golf Club is located just 20 minutes from Central Riyadh, showcasing a whole host of fantastic golf and leisure facilities. Managed by Golf Saudi, Riyadh Golf Club offers an enjoyable round to golfers of all levels. The course was opened in 2005 to challenge the competitive golfer whilst enabling the beginner to enjoy the expert design and scenery.

The championship course boasts undulating terrain, wide fairways and manicured greens that offers golfers a pleasurable yet testing experience. The various lakes and streams traversing across the course terrain aim to keep golfers at the top of their game. The front nine is also floodlit offering golfers the opportunity to play during the week in the evenings.

Standout holes include the 689-yard par 5 with strategically positioned sand bunkers, a narrow approach and lush vegetation. The intimidating Par-3 of just 162 yards frequented with crosswinds and guarded by water on all sides, are two examples of holes which make RGC an excellent golf course.

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