McDowell in fight to keep US tour card
GRAEME McDowell has just two events left to secure his PGA Tour card enabling him to play in the United States next year after he failed to qualify for next week’s USPGA Championship in Missouri.
The Florida-based 2010 US Open champion received an invitation from the PGA of America for last year’s USPGA at Quail Hollow when he dropped out of the world’s top 100.
But there was no invitation for the Portrush man when the field was confirmed for Bellerive Country Club in St Louis yesterday, with Paul Dunne and Shane Lowry joining past champions Rory McIlroy (2012 and 2014), and Pádraig Harington (2008) in the field.
Currently 149th in the FedEx Cup standings, McDowell is in Reno with Lowry, Harrington and Seamus Power for this week’s Barracuda Championship, aiming to move closer to the 125 who will qualify for the play-offs on August 19.
While Power (123rd) and Lowry (159th) are also under pressure, Harrington (222nd) can use his one-off Career Money exemption to play in the US next year.
As a Major winner, Ryder Cup hero and now a Ryder Cup vice-captain, McDowell (39) has said that losing his full playing status will not be a major drama.
Should he fail to gain his PGA Tour card for next year, McDowell has the option of returning to Europe to play on the European Tour instead with The Open at his home town course Royal Portrush an obvious motivator.