Graeme McDowell

Exempt status

• PGA TOUR: Tournament winner (thru 2020-21)

JOINED TOUR

• PGA TOUR: 2006

PGA TOUR Victories (4)

• 2010 U.S. Open Championship
• 2013 RBC Heritage
• 2016 OHL Classic at Mayakoba
• 2019 Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship

International Victories (10)

• 2002 Volvo Scandinavian Masters [Eur]
• 2004 Telecom Italia Open [Eur]
• 2008 Ballantine's Championship [Eur]
• 2008 Barclays Scottish Open [Eur]
• 2010 Celtic Manor Wales Open [Eur]
• 2010 Andalucia Valderrama Masters [Eur]
• 2013 Volvo World Match Play Championship [Eur]
• 2013 Alstom Open de France [Eur]
• 2014 Alstom Open de France
• 2020 Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers

Additional Victories (2)

• 2010 Chevron World Challenge
• 2012 World Challenge

PLAYOFF RECORD

PGA TOUR (2-0)

• 2013 Defeated Webb Simpson, RBC Heritage
• 2016 Defeated Jason Bohn, Russell Knox, OHL Classic at Mayakoba

National Teams

• 2000, 2001 Arnold Palmer Cup
• 2014 Eurasia
• 2006 Royal Trophy
• 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014 Ryder Cup
• 2005, 2009 Seve Trophy
• 2001 Walker Cup
• 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2016 World Cup

Personal

• Picked up the sport at age 7 with his brothers at the urging of his dad.
• Says standing on the 18th green at Pebble Beach after winning the U.S. Open is his biggest thrill in golf.
• Played numerous sports as a youngster, but, as he says, "golf always won."
• Earned an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Ulster.
• In early 2013, opened Nona Blue Modern Tavern outside Lake Nona in Orlando, Fla., an upscale restaurant and sports bar. The 5,600 square-foot facility offers menu items that range from seafood and steaks to shepherd's pie. Says a must-try item is G-Mac and Cheese. Second restaurant, also called Nona Blue, opened on September 14, 2016 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., just outside the gates of PGA TOUR headquarters.

Special Interests

• Spending time with family, watching football and soccer, restaurateur, movies

CURRENT YEAR HIGHLIGHTS

• Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers: Claimed his 11th European Tour victory in Saudi Arabia with a total of 12-under 268, finishing two shots ahead of defending champion Dustin Johnson. Earned his first European Tour title since the 2014 Alstom open de France, marking a span 2,037 days between his last two victories. Jumped inside the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking with the win to No. 47.
• Sony Open in Hawaii: Tied two others for fourth at the Sony Open in Hawaii in his second start at the event. Made five consecutive birdies on Nos. 5-9 in the final round, reaching that mark for the fourth time in his career. Final-round 64 tied the low round for the week.

Career Highlights

2020 Season

• Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers: Claimed his 11th European Tour victory in Saudi Arabia with a total of 12-under 268, finishing two shots ahead of defending champion Dustin Johnson. Earned his first European Tour title since the 2014 Alstom open de France, marking a span 2,037 days between his last two victories. Jumped inside the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking with the win to No. 47.
• Sony Open in Hawaii: Tied two others for fourth at the Sony Open in Hawaii in his second start at the event. Made five consecutive birdies on Nos. 5-9 in the final round, reaching that mark for the fourth time in his career. Final-round 64 tied the low round for the week.

2019 Season

Earned fourth career PGA TOUR title, and first since 2015, at the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship and qualified for the FedExCup Playoffs for the sixth time in his career, ending the season at No. 68 in the FedExCup standings. Advanced to the BMW Championship for the fifth time. Collected three top-10s while making 18 cuts in 20 starts, making more than 16 cuts for the first time in his career.

• Valero Texas Open: Followed a third-round even-par 72 with a 6-under 66 to finish T7 at the Valero Texas Open. On the heels of his victory at the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship, marked his first back-to-back top-10s on the PGA TOUR since winning the 2015 Mayakoba Golf Classic and finishing third at The RSM Classic.
• Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship: Collected his fourth career PGA TOUR title in his 215th start at the age of 39 years, 8 months, 1 day with a one-stroke win over Mackenzie Hughes and Chris Stroud at the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship. Matched Brice Garnett's 2018 winning score of 18-under 270 with rounds of 73-64-64-69 at the Corales Golf Course. With the win, became the fourth European winner on TOUR in as many weeks (Francesco Molinari/Arnold Palmer Invitational, Rory McIlroy/THE PLAYERS Championship, Paul Casey/Valspar Championship, Graeme McDowell/Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship), the longest streak on TOUR since 1970. His combined score of 128 in rounds two and three was his first sub-130 36-hole score (any rounds) on the PGA TOUR. Round three was highlighted by 16 one-putts (two-putted Nos. 16 and 17) and 20 total putts, topping his previous-low mark for putts in a round (21/2014 FedEx St. Jude Classic). Converted a 54-hole lead/co-lead for the first time (four occasions); previous results: T33/2011 THE PLAYERS, T2/2012 U.S. Open, T3/2014 WGC-HSBC Champions.

2018 Season

Made 13 cuts in 20 starts, claiming a top-10 and three additional top-25s. Finished No. 144 in the FedExCup standings.

• Genesis Open: Held a share of the 36-hole lead with Patrick Cantlay at the Genesis Open before a 70-77 weekend left him T26.
• Shriners Hospitals for Children Open: Overcame a 1-over 72 in round three with a bogey-free, 5-under 66 in the final round to finish T10 at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, his lone top-10 on TOUR in 2017-18.

2017 Season

Claimed four top-25 finishes in 17 starts, highlighted by a pair of T14 finishes. Unable to advance to the FedExCup Playoffs, ended his season after the Wyndham Championship at No. 136 in the FedExCup standings.

• Valspar Championship: T14 at the Valspar Championship.
• The Honda Classic: T14 at The Honda Classic.
• ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf: Finished T9 at the ISPS HANDA World Cup with teammate Shane Lowry on the Ireland team at Kingston Heath Golf Club in Australia in late-November.

2016 Season

After failing to advance to the FedExCup Playoffs during the 2014-15 season, advanced to the Playoffs for the fifth time in six seasons, finishing No. 48 in the standings.

• BMW Championship: Ended his season with a T42 at the BMW Championship.
• Deutsche Bank Championship: Missed the cut at the Deutsche Bank Championship.
• The Barclays: Missed the cut at The Barclays.
• Wyndham Championship: In his first start in the Wyndham Championship, finished T5. Closed the third round with four consecutive birdies good for a 6-under 64.
• THE PLAYERS Championship: One of just five players to shoot par or better in each round at THE PLAYERS Championship (72-70-69-69) to finish T9 at 8-under. Third-round 69 was one of just three rounds in the 60s on Saturday (65/Ken Duke, 67/Hideki Matsuyama), a day where the scoring average was above 75.
• The Honda Classic: Following a 1-over 71 in round one of The Honda Classic, posted three rounds in the 60s at PGA National to finish alone in fifth place. Played Nos. 15-17, known as the "Bear Trap," in 2-under-par for the week.
• The RSM Classic: Came back the following week and contended at The RSM Classic, where rounds of 67-68-65-67 led to a 15-under 267 total and solo-third place finish (seven strokes behind runaway winner Kevin Kisner). Capped an opening two-week stretch where where he played his eight rounds at 33-under. Notched back-to-back top-10s for the first time since the 2014 RBC Canadian Open and WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.
• OHL Classic at Mayakoba: In his first start of the season, tied the tournament-low 36 holes at OHL Classic at Mayakoba at 12-under 130. Parlayed his 36-hole lead into his third-career PGA TOUR victory via sudden death in a Monday finish. On the first extra hole, the par-4 18th, hit his approach shot tight and converted for birdie, defeating Jason Bohn and Russell Knox. Struggled on the par-4 first hole most of the week, playing it in 5-over through the first three rounds. Said his par on the opening hole in round four was "about the happiest I have ever been to make a par." Claimed the victory in Mexico was incredibly significant as it came at a time when he was beginning to doubt his ability to effectively compete anymore. The victory came in his second start in the event. He first competed on a sponsor invitation in its inaugural year of 2007, finishing T63.

2015 Season

In 15 PGA TOUR starts, made eight cuts and claimed a top-five finish in his first appearance of the season. At No. 160 in the FedExCup standings, was unable to advance to the FedExCup Playoffs for the first time since 2010.

• Omega Dubai Desert Classic: After a 67-65 start at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, couldn't keep the momentum going on the weekend with a 72-70 closing 36 to T9 with three others.
• World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions: Opened with rounds of 67-67-71 and held the 18-, 36- and 54-hole leads at the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions. Began Sunday with a one-stroke lead and carded a final-round 73 to drop into a T3. Had a birdie putt on the 72-hole that would have allowed him into the Bubba Watson-Tim Clark playoff, but it didn't drop.

2014 Season

• Ryder Cup: At the Ryder Cup, at Gleneagles in Scotland, went 3-0-0 to help lead the European team to a five-point victory over the U.S. in the biennial event.
• The Barclays: Finished T38 at The Barclays but elected to miss the second FedExCup Playoffs event as he and his wife had their first child the week of the Deutsche Bank Championship.
• World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational: Finished T8 at the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational for his first top-10 in Akron in eight starts.
• RBC Canadian Open: Finished T9 at the RBC Canadian Open at Royal Montreal GC, with rounds of 68-65-70-68.
• The Open Championship: In July, overcame an opening-round, 2-over 74 with three rounds in the 60s at The Open Championship to claim a T9 with Shane Lowry and Victor Dubuisson. Bogeyed the par-4 second hole all four days but played Royal Liverpool GC's par-5 18th in 4-under in his final three rounds. Eagled the 72nd hole Sunday to jump inside the top 10 and finish seven strokes back of Rory McIlroy.
• U.S. Open: Making his first start at Pebble Beach since winning the 2010 U.S. Open and playing in the pro-am portion of the event with his dad, finished T7 at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. Week was highlighted by a final-round 67 to finish five strokes behind champion Jimmy Walker.
• Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard: Finished T10 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational for his third top-10 in seven starts at the Orlando event.
• World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship: Posted his fourth top-10 finish, finishing T9 at the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship. It was his second consecutive top-10 at the event (T3 in 2013).
• Eurasia Cup: Represented Europe in the inaugural Eurasia Cup in March. In the event's 10-10 draw, went 2-1-1 in his three matches.
• ASAP Sports/Jim Murray Award: Honored by the Golf Writers Association of America with the ASAP Sports/Jim Murray Award for his accommodation to the media.
• Northwestern Mutual World Challenge: In defense of his Northwestern Mutual World Challenge title, finished sixth at 5-under 283. Overcame a third-round, 3-over 75 with a 69 Sunday at Sherwood CC to claim the finish.
• World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions: In first start of the PGA TOUR season, finished third at the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions at Sheshan International GC in Shanghai, China. Posted rounds of 69-69-64-66 to finish four shots behind winner Dustin Johnson.

2013 Season

Finished No. 55 in the final FedExCup standings. Also won two events on the European Tour, running his career total of European wins to eight.

• RBC Heritage: After entering the final round of the RBC Heritage trailing Charley Hoffman by four strokes, carded a final-round, 2-under 69 to finish tied with Webb Simpson at 9-under 275. Then defeated Simpson on the first extra hole (No. 18) with a par-4 for his second PGA TOUR victory (2010 U.S. Open, 2013 RBC Heritage). Win was the 10th by an international player at the RBC Heritage and the first by a player from Northern Ireland. In three prior starts at Harbour Town GL, six of his 10 rounds were over 74, including a 7-over 78 in the final round in 2005. En route to his victory, carded all four rounds at par or better (71-67-68-69).
• World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship: One week later, opened the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship by playing his first 46 holes without a bogey (a personal-best PGA TOUR streak) but followed with three bogeys and two double bogeys on his final 26 holes to finish T3. Paired with Tiger Woods for both rounds on the weekend, his most costly mishap was a double bogey-6 on the 72nd hole Sunday, dropping him from solo third into a four-way tie for third. Still managed his second consecutive top-10 finish in a World Golf Championships event after finishing T5 at the Accenture Match Play Championship. In seven previous appearances at the Cadillac Championship, his best finish was a T6 (2005 and 2010).
• The Honda Classic: In just his second stroke-play start of the season, claimed a T9 at The Honda Classic for the second consecutive year. Opened with a 3-under 67 on the challenging PGA National Champion Course to claim the top-10, his third consecutive in the event (T6 in 2011).
• World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship: First top 10 of the season came at the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship in Marana, Ariz. In his seventh start in the event, lost to Jason Day, 1-up in the quarterfinals, good for a T5, his best finish in the event.
• Alstom Open: Second European Tour victory of the year came in early July at the Alstom Open de France. Entered the final round tied with Richard Sterne, but a Sunday 67 at Le Golf National in Paris to win going away, taking a four-shot victory over Sterne. The win marked the third time in his career he had won multiple European Tour titles in a season (2008 and 2010). Began the back nine trailing Sterne by one shot, but he had seven pars and two birdies to Sterne's six pars and three bogeys.
• Volvo World Match Play Championship: A year after losing to Nicolas Colsaerts in the finals of the Volvo World Match Play Championship, he again made it to the final match but this time was victorious, beating Thongchai Jaidee, 2 and 1, at Bulgaria's Thracian Cliffs Golf and Beach Resort. Defeated Branden Grace (3 and 2) earlier that morning in the semifinal round. Also enjoyed match victories during the week against Chris Wood (5 and 3), Stephen Gallacher (4 and 2), Bo Van Pelt (1-up) and Colsaerts (2 and 1).

2012 Season

Finished a career-best 42nd in the FedExCup standings.

• World Challenge presented by Northwestern Mutual: Stepped into the winner's circle for the first time since 2010 with a three-stroke win over Keegan Bradley at the World Challenge, which also served as the site of his most recent victory. In three starts at the Woods-hosted event, has won twice (2010 and 2012) and finished runner-up once (2009). Moved into the lead for good following a second-round, 6-under 66, holding a three-stroke lead after 36 holes and two-shot cushion over Bradley through 54 holes. Led the field by hitting 63 of 72 greens in regulation, eight more than his nearest competitor (Jim Furyk, 55 of 72). Owns 12 sub-par rounds in as many attempts at Sherwood CC, including 10 in the 60s.
• Ryder Cup: Finished 1-3 in his third career start for the winning European Ryder Cup team. Dropped his singles match to Zach Johnson, 2 and 1.
• The Open Championship: Bettered an opening-round, 3-over 73 by nine strokes with a 6-under 64 in the second round of The Honda Classic en route to a T9 in his first stroke-play event of the TOUR season. The top-10 came a year after a T6 at PGA National.
• The Open Championship: Playing in the final group with Adam Scott, struggled to a 5-over 75 to finish T5 at The Open Championship. Was attempting to become the first player since Angel Cabrera (2007 U.S. Open and 2009 Masters) to claim major championships as his first two PGA TOUR wins. Earned 10th top-20 finish in his last 17 major championship starts (11 of 17 top-25s) and has finished no worse than 12th in this year's majors: Masters (T12), U.S. Open (T2) and The Open Championship (T5). His T5 finish, which came in his ninth Open Championship start, topped his previous-best finish of T11 at the 2005 Open Championship.
• U.S. Open: Entered the final round of the U.S. Open tied with Jim Furyk at 1-under, but a 3-over 73 left him T2 and just one stroke behind Webb Simpson in his attempt to give Northern Ireland three consecutive U.S. Open titles. Had a chance to force an 18-hole playoff but his 25-foot birdie putt slid off to the left. Fell to 0 for 2 when carrying at least a share of the lead into the final round on the PGA TOUR (led the 2011 PLAYERS Championship before a final-round, 7-over 79 led to a T33 finish). Has never missed a cut in seven starts at the U.S. Open, with top-20 finishes in his last four starts (T18 in 2009, won in 2010 and T14 in 2011).
• Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard: At the Arnold Palmer Invitational, a second-round, 9-under 63 helped earn him a spot in Sunday's final pairing with eventual winner Tiger Woods. Made a 51-foot eagle putt on the par-5, sixth hole to temporarily get within one stroke of Woods, but after Woods made birdie on the same hole, he never again got within reach of the eventual champion, who won by five shots. His runner-up finish was the second of his PGA TOUR career, with the first also coming at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, in 2005.
• World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship: T33 at the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship.
• Talisker Masters: Late in the campaign, at the Talisker Masters in Melbourne, Australia, in mid-November, couldn't recover from a 5-over 77 in the second round. Rallied for a top-10, though, with a 67-71 weekend to T8 at Kingston Heath GC.
• Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship: Began the final round four strokes behind third-round leaders Robert Rock and Tiger Woods at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship. Shot his second consecutive 68 at Abu Dhabi GC, including a hole-in-one on the par-3 12th hole and a birdie on his closing hole, to finish T3 in his season debut.
• Volvo World Match Play Championship: Came close to winning again, this time on the European Tour in May. Made it to the finals of the Volvo World Match Play Championship before Nicolas Colsaerts won the tournament, 1-up, in extremely gusty conditions at Finca Cortesin in Spain. Won preliminary matches against Robert Karlsson, Richard Finch and Sergio Garcia, and then made his way into the finals when he defeated Rafael Cabrera-Bello, 2-up.

2011 Season

Made a career-high 16 starts on TOUR (later tied in 2012). Ten made cuts and three top 10s included a third-place finish. Missed the cut in three of four starts in the majors.

• World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions: Played consistently all week at the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions, with four rounds in the 60s at Sheshan International GC in China, to finish solo third, four strokes behind winner Martin Kaymer.
• THE PLAYERS Championship: Held the third-round lead at THE PLAYERS at 12-under-par but plummeted to a T33 following a final-round 79.
• The Honda Classic: Matched the PGA National course record with a final-round, 6-under 64 to finish T6 at the Honda Classic. His record-tying round included just 11 putts (seven one-putts, including six straight on Nos. 10-15). It was the second time he matched a tournament-course record this season, also doing so in the final round (62) at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions.
• World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship: Collected his second top 10 on the PGA TOUR with a T9 at the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship. Defeated Heath Slocum (4 and 3) and Ross Fisher (4 and 2) before falling to Y.E. Yang (3 and 2) in the third round. Marked the first time he advanced past the second round in five career appearances at the event.
• Hyundai Tournament of Champions: Recorded a final-round 11-under 62, matching the course record set by K.J. Choi during the third round in 2003, to finish third at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions. It equaled the best round of his career in relation to par, an 11-under 61 at County Louth GC (Baltray) at the 2009 Irish Open. Previous-best round on the PGA TOUR was a second-round 7-under 65 at the 2010 PLAYERS Championship (T26).
• Nedbank Golf Challenge: Decided not to defend his Chevron World Challenge title and instead played the Nedbank Golf Challenge on the Sunshine Tour, where he shot two 70s on the weekend to T3 at the Gary Player CC.
• World Cup: Represented Ireland in the World Cup, teaming with Rory McIlroy for a second consecutive time. The duo took a third-round lead into the final round at Mission Hills GC's Blackstone Course, but the team faltered to an even-par 72 in foursomes Sunday to T4.
• European Tour's Abu Dhabi Championship: Picked up his second top-three finish of the season when he T3 at the European Tour's Abu Dhabi Championship. Finished a distant 10 strokes behind winner Martin Kaymer.

2010 Season

• Chevron World Challenge: Came back from four shots down entering the final round to defeat Tiger Woods on the first playoff hole (No. 18) with a birdie-3 at the Chevron World Challenge. Win came after finishing second in 2009 in his first start at Chevron. He is the first player to defeat Tiger Woods as a professional after being down three-or-more shots entering the final round.
• Ryder Cup: Making his second Ryder Cup appearance, earned 2.5 points with a 2-1-1 record, capped by a 3-up victory over Hunter Mahan to help lead the Europeans to a slim one-point win over the U.S.
• U.S. Open Championship: Fresh off that victory in Wales, posted rounds of 71-68-71-74–284 to win the U.S. Open by one stroke over Gregory Havret and two shots over Ernie Els. Trailed Dustin Johnson by three entering the final round. Became the first European to win the U.S. Open since Tony Jacklin in 1970. Following his U.S. Open victory, joined the PGA TOUR in mid-July.
• World Golf Championships-CA Championship: Final-round 66 aided T6 finish at the World Golf Championships-CA Championship.
• Barclays Singapore Open: Late in the season, he enjoyed a T3 at the Barclays Singapore Open at Sentosa GC. A week later, was in contention at the UBS Hong Kong Open after a third-round 63 at the par-70 Hong Kong GC. Shot a Sunday 68 to finish solo fifth, three strokes behind winner Ian Poulter. A week later, he needed at least a top-three finish at the Dubai World Championship to catch Martin Kaymer and win the Race to Dubai. Instead, he T13 at the Earth Course at Jumeirah Estates to finish second to Kaymer in the final standings.
• Andalucia Valderrama Masters: Picked up his second European Tour title of the campaign with a two-stroke win at the Andalucia Valderrama Masters despite shooting a final-round 74 in heavy winds in Spain.
• Celtic Manor Wales Open: Shot a final-round 63 in early June to win the Celtic Manor Wales Open on the European Tour. It was his first victory since the 2008 Barclays Scottish Open.

2009 Season

Made 11 of 11 cuts on the PGA TOUR with two top-10 finishes as a non-member. In early July, joined the PGA TOUR as a Special Temporary Member for the remainder of the season.

• OMEGA Mission Hills World Cup: Teamed with Rory McIlory in representing Ireland at the OMEGA Mission Hills World Cup. The duo combined to shoot a 28-under 260 to T2 behind the Italian team of Edoardo and Francesco Molinari.
• PGA Championship: Finished T10 at the PGA Championship, his first career top-10 in a major.
• St. Jude Classic presented by FedEx: Among the early leaders at the St. Jude Classic, then fell back during the middle rounds before rallying with a final-round 63 to finish T7.

2008 Season

• Ballentine's Championship: Won the European Tour's Ballantine's Championship on Jeju Island, South Korea, in March. Defeated Jeev Milkha Singh in a three-hole playoff by making a tap-in birdie after his 7-iron approach from 179 yards landed within a foot of the hole. Victory earned him a spot in the World Golf Championships-CA Championship the following week.
• Barclays Scottish Open: Won the Barclays Scottish Open by two strokes the week prior to The Open Championship. Earned a spot on the Ryder Cup team, where he had a 2-1-0 record in his debut.

2004 Season

Finished the European Tour season with nine top-10s, including a win, two seconds and two thirds to place sixth on the Order of Merit.

• Telecom Italia Open: Captured the Telecom Italia Open in a Monday playoff with Thomas Levet of France.
• Dunhill Links Championship: Shot a record-tying 62 at St. Andrews in the first round of the Dunhill Links Championship, where he placed second.

2002 Season

• Volvo Scandinavian Masters: Won his first European Tour title in only his fourth start as a professional when he won the Volvo Scandinavian Masters at Kunsangen GC.

Amateur Highlights

• Played a prominent role in Great Britain and Ireland's retention of the Walker Cup in 2001 at Sea Island, Ga. At the University of Alabama-Birmingham, McDowell was ranked the top collegiate golfer in the United States, winning the 2002 Fred Haskins Award.