Who's who: Graeme McDowell

  • Torrey Pines - South course, host of the Farmers Insurance Open
  • Prince's GC, England
  • Torrey Pines - South course, host of the Farmers Insurance Open
  • Terras da Comporta, Dunas
  • Monte Rei G&CC
  • Marco Simone GC (Italy); host of the Ryder Cup 2023
  • Pebble Beach host of the US Open; US Women's Open; Pebble Beach Pro-Am
  • Marco Simone GC

Who's who: Graeme McDowell

  • Name:

    Graeme McDowell
  • Also known as:

    G-Mac
  • Country:

    N. Ireland
  • Born:

    July 30, 1979 in Portrush, Co. Antrim, N. Ireland.
  • Original/Home Club:

    Rathmore GC (playing on the Valley course, Royal Portrush GC).
  • Occupation:

    Professional golfer; restaurateur.
  • Turned Pro:

    2002
  • Website:

    https://www.graememcdowell.com

Roll of Honour

MAJORS (1): US Open (2010). Walker Cup player (2001). Ryder Cup player (2008, '10, '12, '14). Multiple wins on the European, US PGA and Asian Tours. Appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire, MBE (2011).

Did you know?

As an amateur, "G-Mac" as he is often called, studied at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. In 2002 he received the Haskins Award, as the No.1 ranked collegiate golfer in the USA. He won 6 out of 12 events with a stroke average of 69.6, beating the previous scoring average records set by Luke Donald and Tiger Woods.

In 2022, aged 42, McDowell was enticed onto Greg Norman's "rebel" LIV Golf series. Bankrolled by Saudi Arabia, this breakaway rival to the main international tours offered massive prize funds, guaranteed payouts and, for some, eye-watering signing-on bonuses. With one major championship to his name but few recent main tour wins, McDowell joined LIV Golf alongside a few other notable "ageing" golf stars, and an abundance of lower-ranked "unknowns".

Top tournaments won by Graeme McDowell

2020
Europe
Royal Greens
268 (-12)
US$583,330
SoftBank

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

McDowell, Graeme

Venue

Royal Greens

Score

268 (-12)

Prize money

US$583,330

Title sponsor

SoftBank

Played as the Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers (Jan 30-Feb 2; Eurpn Tr event). Second-placed Dustin Johnson (USA) finished 2 shots behind Graeme McDowell (N.Ire), who claimed his 11th European Tour win and first since 2014. [Royal Greens G&CC, King Abdullah EC, Saudi Arabia].

2019
America
270 (-18)
$540,000
Puntacana

Category

America

Winner (holder)

McDowell, Graeme

Score

270 (-18)

Prize money

$540,000

Title sponsor

Puntacana

Played as the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship (March 28-31). Second-placed Mackenzie Hughes (Can) and Chris Stroud (USA) finished 1 shot behind Graeme McDowell (N.Ire). [Corales course, Puntacana Resort, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

McDowell, Graeme

Score

266 (-18)

Prize money

$1,116,000

Title sponsor

OHL

Played as the OHL Classic at Mayakoba (Nov 12-15, 2015; PGA Tour 2015/16 season). Graeme McDowell (N.Ire) beat Russell Knox (Scot) and Jason Bohn (USA) with a birdie at the first playoff hole (par-4 18th). Monday finish required after bad weather during the weekend. [El Camaleón course, Mayakoba Resort, Riviera Maya, Mexico].

2014
Europe
279 (-5)
€500,000
Alstom

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

McDowell, Graeme

Score

279 (-5)

Prize money

€500,000

Title sponsor

Alstom

Played as the Alstom Open de France (July 3-6). Second-placed Thongchai Jaidee (Thai) and Kevin Stadler (USA) finished 1 shot behind defending champion McDowell (N.Ire). McDowell came from 8 shots behind Stadler, who held a four shot lead going into the final round. [Albatros course, Golf National, Guyancourt, nr Paris].

2013
Europe
275 (-9)
€500,000
Alstom

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

McDowell, Graeme

Score

275 (-9)

Prize money

€500,000

Title sponsor

Alstom

Played as the Alstom Open de France (July 4-7). Second-placed Richard Sterne (RSA) finished 4 shots behind McDowell (N.Ire). [Albatros course, Golf National, Guyancourt, nr Paris].

2013
America
275 (-9)
$1,044,000
RBC

Category

America

Winner (holder)

McDowell, Graeme

Score

275 (-9)

Prize money

$1,044,000

Title sponsor

RBC

Played as the RBC Heritage (April 18-21). McDowell (N.Ire) beat Webb Simpson (USA) with a par at the first playoff hole. [Harbour Town Links, Sea Pines Resort, Hilton Head, SC].

2013
Europe
2 & 1
€800,000
Volvo

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

McDowell, Graeme

Score

2 & 1

Prize money

€800,000

Title sponsor

Volvo

Played as the Volvo World Match Play Championship (May 16-19). McDowell (N.Ire) beat Thongchai Jaidee (Thai) 2 and 1 in the 18-hole final. [Thracian Cliffs G&BC, Kavarna, Bulgaria].

2012
America
271 (-17)
$1,000,000
Northwestern Mutual

Category

America

Winner (holder)

McDowell, Graeme

Score

271 (-17)

Prize money

$1,000,000

Title sponsor

Northwestern Mutual

Played as the World Challenge presented by Northwestern Mutual (Nov 29-Dec 2; unofficial PGA Tour money event, hosted by Tiger Woods). Second-placed Keegan Bradley (USA) finished 3 shots behind Graeme McDowell (N.Ire). [Sherwood CC, Thousand Oaks, nr LA, Calif.].

2010
Europe
269 (-15)
€350,940
Celtic Manor

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

McDowell, Graeme

Score

269 (-15)

Prize money

€350,940

Title sponsor

Celtic Manor

Played as the Celtic Manor Wales Open on the Twenty Ten course (June 3-6). Second-placed Rhys Davies (Wales) finished 3 shots behind Graeme McDowell (N.Ire), who recorded his fifth European Tour win. In the final round McDowell shot a 63 in response to Davies's course record 62. [Twenty Ten course, Celtic Manor Resort, Newport, South Wales].

2010
America
272 (-16)
$1,200,000
Chevron

Category

America

Winner (holder)

McDowell, Graeme

Score

272 (-16)

Prize money

$1,200,000

Title sponsor

Chevron

Played as the Chevron World Challenge (Dec 2-5; unofficial PGA Tour money event, hosted by Tiger Woods). Graeme McDowell (N.Ire) beat Tiger Woods (USA) with a birdie at the first playoff hole. The result left Tiger without a win in 2010, his first winless season since turning professional in 1996. [Sherwood CC, Thousand Oaks, nr LA, Calif.].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

McDowell, Graeme

Score

281 (-3)

Prize money

€500,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the inaugural Andalucía Valderrama Masters (Oct 28-31). Second-placed Søren Kjeldsen (Den), Gareth Maybin (N.Ire) and Damien McGrane (Ire) finished 2 shots behind Graeme McDowell (N.Ire). [Valderrama GC, San Roque, Spain].

2010
Awards
x
n/a
Eurpn Tr

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

McDowell, Graeme

Venue

Score

x

Prize money

n/a

Title sponsor

Eurpn Tr

Graeme McDowell (N.Ire) and Martin Kaymer (Ger) jointly won the European Tour Race to Dubai Golfer of the Year Award, determined by a panel of representatives from the European Tour, golf writers, and TV and radio commentators. The panel felt both players achieved equally outstanding results in 2010.

2010
Majors
284 (E)
$1,350,000
USGA

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

McDowell, Graeme

Score

284 (E)

Prize money

$1,350,000

Title sponsor

USGA

The US Open (110th) (June 17-20). Second-placed Gregory Havret (Fra) finished 1 shot behind first-time major championship winner McDowell (N.Ire). [Pebble Beach Golf Links, Monterey Peninsula, CA].

2008
Asia
Pinx GC
264 (-24)
US$511,096
Ballantine's

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

McDowell, Graeme

Venue

Pinx GC

Score

264 (-24)

Prize money

US$511,096

Title sponsor

Ballantine's

Played as the inaugural Ballantine's Championship (March 13-16; Asian/Eurpn Trs event). Graeme McDowell (N.Ire) beat Jeev Milkha Singh (India) with a birdie at the third playoff hole. [Pinx GC, Jeju Island, S Korea].

2008
Europe
271 (-13)
€631,045
Barclays

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

McDowell, Graeme

Score

271 (-13)

Prize money

€631,045

Title sponsor

Barclays

Played as the Barclays Scottish Open (July 10-13). Second-placed James Kingston (RSA) finished 2 shots behind Graeme McDowell (N.Ire). [Loch Lomond GC, Luss, Dunbartonshire].

2004
Europe
197 (-19)
€200,000
Telecom Italia

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

McDowell, Graeme

Score

197 (-19)

Prize money

€200,000

Title sponsor

Telecom Italia

Played as the Telecom Italian Open (Apr 29-May 2). McDowell (N.Ire) beat Thomas Levet (Fr) with a par at the fourth playoff hole. Reduced to 54 holes due to rain. [Castello Tolcinasco GC, Pieve Emanuele, nr Milan].

2002
Europe
270 (-14)
€316,660
Volvo

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

McDowell, Graeme

Score

270 (-14)

Prize money

€316,660

Title sponsor

Volvo

Played as the Volvo Scandinavian Masters (Aug 1-4). Second-placed Trevor Immelman (RSA) finished 1 shot behind 23-year-old Graeme McDowell (N.Ire), who recorded his first European Tour win in only his fourth start on the Tour. [King's course, Kungsängen GC, nr Stockholm].

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Tournaments

Ryder Cup: Rome plays host to the first ever Ryder Cup to be staged in Italy, with the USA defending golf’s greatest team trophy at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club (Sept 29-Oct 1).

Solheim Cup: also in September, also in southern Europe, the 18th Solheim Cup will be contested at Finca Cortesin on the Costa del Sol, with Europe defending after their surprise win in Toledo, Inverness Club (Ohio) in 2021 (Sept 22-24). 

Who's Who

Céline Boutier: with many successes as both an amateur and professional golfer, Boutier added a major championship title to her impressive résumé at this year’s Evian Championship.

Alex Cejka: buffeted by rain and high winds, especially on the high-scoring final day, Čejka prevailed over Pádraig Harrington in a playoff at Royal Porthcawl, to scoop the Senior Open Championship title.

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: With a clubhouse that might befit a Roman Emperor, and a golf course to match, you can be sure of a memorable outing at Rome's most talked about golf facility.

Jim Fazio's original layout was much changed to create a modern Ryder Cup course ... now one of the Eternal City's (and Italy's) most revered.

Prince's Golf Club, Kent (UK)

Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.

Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available

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