G-Mac NEWS
PIF SAUDI INTERNATIONAL POWERED BY SOFTBANK INVESTMENT ADVISERS
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.
LIV GOLF CHICAGO
Sep 13 – 15, 2024
Graeme was back in action this week at Bolingbrook Golf Club, Illinois which is located just forty minutes southwest of Chicago.
G-Mac was one under par after five holes on his opening round. He then dropped three shots in a four-hole stretch in the middle of his round, but bounced back with back-to-back birdies on his closing two for a two-over tally putting him tied for 33rd. Day 2 was much the same with four dropped shots and two birdies with left him going into the final day in T38 place on +4.
With Graeme needing a good score to boost his 2024 LIV Golf League standings, he pulled out a great final round of four under par 66. No matter what Graeme never gives up and his final day showed his grit. After 16 holes he was five under with no dropped shots, the one mark on his card came at the par 4, 10 (his 17th).
Graeme’s 2024 Individual Competition ended with him in 29 position putting him in the Open Zone.
Going into 2024 Team Championship next week in Dallas, his team Smash GC are running in 4 place.
RESULT: T23
SCORE +2(72), +2(72), -4(66), TOT -E
Smash GC ended the week in 8th place with a score of -7 (R1 -5, R2 +5, R3 -7 Tot -7)
Course Details
Designed by famed architect Arthur Hills and partner Steve Forrest, Bolingbrook Golf Club, located just 30 miles from downtown Chicago, features a 156-yard island green on its signature 15th hole.
The 7,104-yard Par 70 layout offers rolling fairways and elevated greens, winding around seven different lakes. Selected by the PGA Tour as one of the host venues for the Forme Tour in 2021, Bolingbrook will host this year’s LIV Golf Chicago event, one of our two showpiece finales to the season which will crown the overall individual champion.
Yardage: 7,036
Course Par: 70
LIV GOLF UK By JCB
Jul 26-28, 2024
Graeme’s week at JCB Golf & Country Club ended with a T29 place. It was a strong start for Graeme on Friday with an excellent four-under opener. After an early bogey, G-Mac responded with six birdies and just one more bogey to sit tied for sixth. It was tough going for the Portrush man on Saturday with four dropped shots after just five holes. In true G-Mac style he then showed his grit to reduce the damage with three birdies in the next five holes to get to one under after ten holes. After a string of pars his round took a knock with a double bogey on 18 (his 15th hole on the day) followed by another bogey to drop him back. Again he managed to not give in and fired a birdie to end the day with a round of +3. On Sunday, Graeme was par after nine holes, this included three birdies cancelled out by three bogeys. With his team Smash GC in contention, Graeme dug in and came home on the back nine one under under par, one under on the day.
RESULT: T29
SCORE -4(67), +3(74), -1(70), TOT -2
Smash GC ended the week with a great T3 place with a score of -20 (R1 -11, R2 -10, R3 +1 Tot -20)
Course Details
2024 marks the start of a multi-year partnership between LIV Golf and JCB, one of the world’s leading equipment manufacturers.
LIV Golf UK by JCB will take place July 26-28 at JCB Golf & Country Club, near Uttoxeter, a modern masterpiece with rolling fields, island greens and even a ruined stately home.
Fans can cheer Poulter, Westwood and Horsfield on their home turf, while the players will love the endless challenges created by Robin Hiseman, particularly the fiercely guarded 18th. And it’s all happening in the gorgeous British countryside, the perfect summer adventure for thousands of golf fans.
Yardage: 7,201
Course Par: 71
LIV GOLF ANDALUCÍA 2024
Jul 12—14, 2024
It was a tough week in Andalucía for G-Mac and his team Smash GC. Valderrama showed it’s teeth and from the off it was hard going. Graeme opened with a +4 followed by +6 on Saturday. As always with the Portrush man, he never gives up and pulled out his best round on Sunday with a level par. Onwards!
RESULT: T42
SCORE +4(75), +6(77), E(71), TOT +10
Smash GC finished in 13th postion with a score of +23 (R1 +13, R2 +3, R3 +7 Tot +23)
In the word of his team, “defeat is temporary, grit is forever.”
Course Details
Some holes have a ring to them, right? Amen Corner at Augusta, the Road Hole at St Andrews… and the 17th at Valderrama. This natural amphitheater has become a legend in itself, a sun-drenched setting for comebacks, triple bogeys, even an albatross from our very own Graeme McDowell.
Valderrama, located in Andalucia in southern Spain, is loved by top golfers and fans of the game alike. The pros enjoy the beautifully presented course, which is long, technical and extremely testing. Spectators appreciate the stunning scenery and the chance to see many of the world’s best players up close.
Yardage: 6,999
Course Par: 71
LIV GOLF NASHVILLE 2024
Jun 21-23,2024
Graeme and his Smash teammates, Brooks Koepka, Talor Gooch and Jason Kokrak headed into the week in fifth place on the team rankings. With Graeme sitting in 21st place on the individual rankings, he was looking for a solid week to consolidate his position. It wasn’t to be with a disappointing T42 finish at The Grove Club designed by LIV Golf’s CEO Greg Norman. After a 2 over opening round, G-Mac dug in on Day 2 with a score of 3 under, which included 4 birdies and 1 dropped shot. On Sunday, Graeme opened with a birdie but dropped back with 2 dropped shots on the front 9. He levelled up the day on his 17th (10th hole on the course) with a birdie to end the round Even, 1 under for the week.
RESULT: T42
SCORE: +2(73), -3(69), E(71), Tot -1
Smash GC finished in 12th position with a total of -12 (R1, -2, R2, -11, R3, +1).
Course Details
It’s nearly 80 years since Nashville welcomed big-time golf. This course, designed by our CEO Greg Norman, is worth the wait.
The McCrory Creek, which glides through the middle of The Grove, provides one of the most beguiling natural hazards you’ve ever seen in golf. And there are plenty of man-made ponds around the greens and fairways, creating further pitfalls for those who go too big on the tee.
Overall, though, this course should reward bold, adventurous golf. The greens are fast, the fairways are generous and the scenery… well, that’s spectacular.
Yardage: 7,290
Course Par: 71
LIV GOLF HOUSTON 2024
Jun 07-09,2024
A very strong T6 for Graeme with lots of positives to take away from Houston. G–Mac got off to a –3 opening round including 4 birdies which had him well-placed and a marker for the days ahead. After a bogey first hole on Saturday, Graeme showed his steel to turn it around with 2 birdies on the front nine. His day went to another level with consecutive eagles on 12 & 13 which had him flying. Sunday was time to focus for both himself and his team. Graeme kept his cool with a bogey free round of –3 to finish T6 and helping Smash GC to T2 at the end of the a success week.
RESULT: T6
SCORE: -3(69), -4(68), -3(69), Tot -10
Smash GC had a solid week finishing T2 with a total of -31 (R1, -6, R2, -11, R3, -14). Smash soared up the team leaderboard on Sunday after building day on day to come within 2 shots of winners Cleeks GC.
Course Details
At first glance, Houston looks like a driver’s paradise. Spread over 7,508 yards, you’d think it would play right into the hands of Brooks, Bryson and the rest of the LIV Golf bomb squad.
But then you look a bit closer, see the deception bunkers, the sharply ridged greens and the disappearing pins, and realize this is going to be much more tricky than it looks.
For the fans, however, it’s going to be awesome. A beautiful course framed by pines and Wetland plants, with a classic hometown crowd that have been waiting to see golf of this quality for years. Houston loves its sport, and we can expect them to roar the house down here.
Yardage: 7,353
Course Par: 72
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