The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Former UAB Golfer Graeme McDowell Wins Scottish Open
7/13/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
July 13, 2008
LUSS, Scotland ----- Former UAB golfer Graeme McDowell registered the biggest victory of his professional career Sunday as he won the Scottish Open with three straight birdies on the back nine for a 3-under 68.
McDowell trailed Simon Khan by two shots until Khan double bogeyed the 12th. McDowell then birdied the next three holes to move ahead and went on to win by two strokes with a total of 13-under 271.
McDowell, of Northern Ireland, has almost certainly clinched a debut appearance in the Ryder Cup against the United States in Kentucky in September.
McDowell concluded his Blazer career in the spring of 2002 when he was named the nation's top collegiate golfer.
James Kingston, with 66 on Sunday, finished second. Richard Green and Miguel Ángel Jiménez shot 69s to tie for third at 274. Khan had a 72 to finish fifth, another stroke back, he but secured a spot at the British Open that starts Thursday at Royal Birkdale in England.
McDowell will now head to England and Royal Birkdale for next week's British Open fresh off his fourth career European Tour win, and second of the season. The field he beat this week at Loch Lomond featured a slew of top players who figure to be threats to win the season's third major.
Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, Adam Scott and Lee Westwood were among the players who couldn't catch McDowell in Glasgow. None of them finished within five shots of the winner.
"It really was a tough weekend of golf with such a stacked field," said McDowell, who finished at 13-under 271. "This is a massive relief." As far as the Ryder Cup, the victory put McDowell sixth on the list from which the top 10 qualify.
An emotional McDowell was also especially pleased to win the British Open warmup event with his family in the crowd.
"I have my mum and dad here," he said after picking up a check for 500,000 pounds ($1 million), the biggest of his career.
"My dad put a club in my hand for the first time when I was about seven or eight and it's great to give him something back.
"He just retired last Friday so it's kind of my little retirement present to him. He's a pretty emotional guy and there will be a few tears later on tonight."
