Mcdowell sinking fast after a promising start in Florida
GRAEME Mcdowell had a horror day on the par-threes at PGA National as he started the Honda Classic with a round to forget in Palm Beach Gardens in Florida.
The Rathmore man recorded a quadruple-bogey, a double-bogey and two bogeys to finish a combined seven-over-par on the four shortest holes on his way to a nine-over-par round overall that leaves him needing to do some work to make the weekend.
Mcdowell had started well, birdieing his opening hole, the 10th, and the 12th either side of a bogey at 11, but the quadruple-bogey came at the 15th and then the double followed on 17.
Although the World No.117 birdied the par-five 18th, that was to be his last of the day as he dropped four shots after the turn to end well off the pace and needing a big day to avoid a fifth missed cut in six events this year.
The lead is held by Australia’s Matt Jones, who tied the course record at PGA National with a nine-under 61 to sit three shots clear of Aaron Wise and Russell Henley at the end of the early starters’ rounds.
Ireland’s Shane Lowry fared much better than Mcdowell, picking up four birdies and just one bogey on his way to a three-under 67 that has him six back of Jones.
On the European Tour, both Cormac Sharvin and Jonathan Caldwell will also need good rounds today to avoid the cut line at the Magical Kenya Open.
Sharvin opened with a one-under-par 70 at Karen Country Club in Nairobi that has him right on the cut line after the opening round, but Caldwell will need to pick up a few shots in today’s second round after a one-over 72.
France’s Benjamin Hebert leads by one after the first round after shooting a seven-under 64, with a six-strong group one shot back at six-under.
On the Symetra Tour, amateur Olivia Mehaffey finished with two birdies to sit four off Celine Herbin’s early lead at the Carlisle Arizona Women’s Classic after a three-under opening round.
PAUL Hyland is hoping that he can complete a hat-trick of second chance success in recent British title fights for Belfast fighters.
Last August, James Tennyson landed the British lightweight title having previously lost in a featherweight bid, while Anthony Cacace got his hands on the super-feather title in November 2019, two years on from a defeat to Martin Ward. Tonight, Hyland tangles with Maxi Hughes for the vacant British lightweight title.
Hyland has come up short in British and European title fights but believes that the experience he has gained will help him turn back the threat of Hughes, who enters the ring as favourite on the back of wins over Jono Carroll and Viktor Kotochigov.
“It’s great to have this second chance at the British title. Ever since I turned professional it’s the one I’ve wanted to win. I remember when Martin Lindsay came into the Immaculata club with it and as soon as I saw it I said to myself, ‘That’s what I want’,” said Hyland.
“James Tennyson and Anthony Cacace won the British title at their second attempt and I intend to keep that second time around success going against Hughes. It’s a title that can open so many doors.”
Hyland had been lined up to face former world lightweight champion Terry Flanagan last year but then Covid struck and so his return to the ring comes 19 months after that European title defeat at the hands of Francesco Patera in Italy.
“I have learned from the past two title defeats. I lost to two good fighters so there was no shame in that. You either win or you learn and I know my approach will be different for this fight,” added Hyland.