McDowell shoots blazing 62 in final round to miss playoff by one

McDowell shoots blazing 62 in final round to miss playoff by one

Graeme McDowell didn’t think he had a chance to win the Hyundai Tournament of Champions when he began his final round Sunday.

Six shots off the lead, he just went out to have a fun day.

"I really didn’t think I had a shot," he said.

But with five birdies in his first six holes, he started to make noise. Then he kept making noise. Finally, after birdies at 15 and 16 to get him to 23 under and into a tie for the lead, it finally dawned on him.

"At that point," he said, "I thought I might have a shot."

After making par on the tough par-4 17th, McDowell failed to birdie the par-5 18th, coming up one shot shy of the playoff that included Robert Garrigus and Jonathan Byrd.

Still, by shooting an 11-under 62, McDowell tied the tournament and course record set of 62 set by K.J. Choi in 2003. The 11-under round also ties McDowell’s personal low that he set two years ago in the Irish Open at County Louth.

The next day after that round in Ireland, McDowell had to withdraw from the tournament due to shin splints. This time, he couldn’t be happier with his performance.

"I’m just over the moon with the way I played this week," McDowell said.

Especially because of the scrutiny he incurred by changing equipment from Callaway, which he used to win the U.S. Open last year, to Srixon.

His play this week helped erase any doubts that he had made the right move.

"I’ve just proven to the world I’m not naive enough to switch to inferior equipment," McDowell said. "I’m very confident in Srixon. … All I’ve done is gone from one great company to another."