McDowell falls short despite course record

Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell missed out on a play-off after matching a course record as Jonathan Byrd won the first PGA Tour event of the year. Byrd defeated fellow American Robert Garrigus at the second play-off hole to win the Tournament of Champions in Hawaii after finishing 24 under par.

But McDowell almost joined them in the play-off after a final-round 62 that included 11 birdies. “I’m very happy with the day’s work,” the 2010 US Open champion said.

McDowell, who has changed club manufacturers since last season, was six shots behind the leaders at the start of the day, and had a chance to join them in the play-off only to miss a nine-foot birdie putt at the last. “When I birdied 13 through 16, I kind of started to think that maybe I had an outside shot.

The 31-year-old, ranked fifth in the world, hit earlier rounds of 71, 68 and 68, but his superb last round at the Kapalua Resort included six birdies before the turn and five on the back nine.

BBC