Officials' error helps Europe take Solheim Cup lead

Dennis Georgatos, The Sports Xchange August 17, 2013The SportsXchange

PARKER, Colo. -- European golfer Carlota Cigandaregrouped from a wayward shot, in part because of a favorable drop that was based on officials incorrectly interpreting a rule. 

 Ciganda went on to help the European women take a 5-3 lead over the Americans on Friday in the first of three days of match play competition in the Solheim Cup at the Colorado Golf Club. 

But it turns out the Americans' complaints over the drop awarded to Ciganda were justified after she hit her second shot on the par-5 15th hole into a hazard composed of a rolling stand of trees and scrub brush alongside a creek. Officials later conceded they made an error in the rules interpretation.

Despite the mistaken ruling, officials said the results would stand.

 "Everything stands," said Brad Alexander, a member of the Solheim Cup rules committee. 

 Suzann Pettersen and Ciganda were 1-up winners over Stacy Lewis and Lexi Thompson as the Europeans gained a split of the four afternoon matches after taking three of the four matches during the morning competition. 

Alexander said Ciganda, through no fault of her own, ended up taking her drop in the wrong place.

If the rule had been interpreted properly, Ciganda should have taken a drop within two club lengths of where the ball landed instead of the alternate interpretation in which she was allowed to drop on the fairway approximately 40 yards further from the hole.

Officials took more than 20 minutes to sort out the spot for her drop, and when they allowed her a generous spot, Lewis immediately questioned the decision.

 "She was quite angry about what was happening and I don't blame her," U.S. team captain Meg Mallon said. "They had the momentum going in their favor. People make mistakes in rulings. That's not my issue. 

"We have four matches out there and we have officials with every group and it shouldn't take that long (to make a call). There were three groups on that hole waiting in the fairway for that long for them to not only make the wrong ruling but, you know, changing the momentum of the matches."

Added Lewis: "I'm very frustrated by the situation. I think there were a lot of things that went wrong within the ruling."

Mallon said while she and the rest of the U.S. team was unhappy, they also have to move on in the match.

"We have to accept that as a team and we have to go out and play our best and try to get those points back," Mallon said.

 After getting the clean drop, Ciganda got her fourth shot within 12 feet of the hole. She ended up saving par, keeping the match all squared after Lewis missed a birdie putt. 

One hole later, on the 16th, Pettersen made a birdie to give the Europeans a one-stroke advantage, which they hung on to the rest of the way to win the match.

"Carlota, she was a superstar," Pettersen said. "She hung in there tough. I'm proud of her."

Ciganda conceded she didn't play her best golf.

"It was very stressful at the time," she said, adding, "It was a great match and we won. And that's the most important."

 Americans Cristie Kerr and Michelle Wie beat Catriona Matthew and Charley Hull, at 17 the youngest to play in the Solheim Cup, 2 and 1. Brittany Lang and Brittany Lincicome also earned a point for the Americans, beating Anna Nordqvist and Giulia Sergas 4 and 3 after Lang buried a short birdie putt on the par-5 15th. 

Lang produced a big shot to put the match firmly in their control on the 14th when she holed a shot from a bunker on the fringe of the green.

The "drop" controversy overshadowed some exceptional golf, particularly by Wie, who helped silence any lingering criticism over her selection to the team by Mallon.

Wie stoked momentum for her team when she chipped in a long-distance birdie putt on the par-4 13th hole from beyond the edge of the green. Wie pumped her fist and shared a celebratory hand slap and hug with Kerr after the ball dropped in the hole.

"When it went in, we just went crazy," Wie said. "I think we really needed that and it felt awesome."

 Caroline Hedwall and Caroline Masson took another afternoon match for Europe with a 2-and-1 victory overAngela Stanford and Gerina Piller. 

Europe won the last Solheim Cup in Ireland two years ago, but the Americans are 6-0 in Solheim Cup play in the United States.

The European squad got off to a strong start by taking three of the four morning matches in "Foursome" play.

Jessica Korda and Morgan Pressel accounted for the lone U.S. point from the morning session when they beat Matthew and Jodi Ewart Shadoff 3 and 2.

"I think we both played well out there today," said Pressel, who teamed up with Korda for birdie putts on the 11th and 13th holes to pull away. "We were a little shaky early, a little bit nervous. But we didn't make many mistakes and we were able to make some really good par saving putts."

Swedish golfers Nordqvist and Caroline Hedwall put the first point on the board for Europe when they defeated Lewis and Lizette Salas 4 and 2 in the opening match.

Norway's Pettersen and Spain's Beatriz Recari gave Europe its second point when they beat Texans Lang and Angela Stanford 2 and 1.

 A 2-and-1 victory by Azahara Munoz of Spain and Karine Icher of France against Kerr and Paula Creamerrounded out the morning session. Munoz and Icher strung together consecutive birdies on Nos. 8, 9 and 10 to seize the momentum in the match. 

"We played well from the beginning and we had an amazing stretch on 8, 9 and 10 making bombs. That was huge for us," Munoz said.

Creamer said problems in their short game cost them.

"We just didn't make a putt," Creamer said. "We had so many lip-outs and it's just that's the way it was."

Sunday Notebook: Low scores galore mark PGA

 

PGA.COM August 21, 2013

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Tim Clark made the only hole-in-one of the week on Sunday.()

Watch final-round highlights | Watch our highlight package for the entire PGA Championship

By T.J. Auclair, Stan Awtrey and The PGA of America

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - In three U.S. Opens and two PGA Championships played at Oak Hill previously, only 13 players completed 72 holes with a score under par.

In the 95th PGA Championship, 21 players finished 72 holes under par. Jason Dufner's winning total of 10-under 270 was four shots better than the previous best 72-hole total of 6 under - Jack Nicklaus's winning score in the 1980 PGA Championship.

DUFNER'S MAJOR MOMENT: On the final day of major championship golf in 2013, Jason Dufner earned his first major title with a two-stroke victory over Jim Furyk. Dufner, runner-up in the 2011 PGA Championship, shot 2-under-par 68 to finish the Season's Final Major at 10-under-par 270, the lowest winning score of any major championship conducted on Oak Hill's East Course.

The key to Dufner's victory can be found in the Greens in Regulation category, where he hit one outstanding approach shot after another throughout theChampionship. Dufner hit 54 of 72 Greens in Regulation, a 75 percent success rate that ranked third overall for the week. Trailing Furyk by one stroke entering the final round, the unflappable Dufner hit 11 of 18 Greens in Regulation, helping him to make three birdies on the front nine (Nos. 4, 5 and 8). He had only 11 putts over the first nine holes and finished the Championship tied for 14th in Total Putts.

Before he raised the Wanamaker Trophy in victory, Dufner was embraced by his friend, Keegan Bradley, who defeated Dufner in that 2011 PGA Championship playoff.

26 STRAIGHT WITHOUT A BOGEY: Dufner, who earlier in the Championship went 31 consecutive holes without a bogey or worse, played 26 straight holes without a bogey or worse over his last two rounds. His three-putt for bogey at No. 17 today ended that string.

SIXTH TO SHOOT 63 AND WIN A MAJOR: Dufner is now the sixth golfer to shoot 63 in a major - he did so in the second round here - and go on to win that Championship. The others:

• Johnny Miller, 1973 U.S. Open • Jack Nicklaus, 1980 U.S. Open • Raymond Floyd, 1982 PGA Championship • Greg Norman, 1986 Open Championship • Tiger Woods, 2007 PGA Championship

TO THE CHAMPION GOES THE SPOILS: As the 95th PGA Champion, Dufner has earned:

• A lifetime exemption into the PGA Championship • A five-year exemption into the Masters, U.S. Open and Open Championship • The Wanamaker Trophy • A berth in the 2013 PGA Grand Slam of Golf • A place in the history books

LOWEST WINNING PGA CHAMPIONSHIP TOTAL AT OAK HILL: Dufner's winning total, 10-under-par 270, is the lowest of the three PGA Championships played at Oak Hill Country Club.

The other Champions and their winning scores:

• Jack Nicklaus, 6-under-par 274, in 1980 • Shaun Micheel, 4-under-par 276, in 2003

JUST THE STATS, PLEASE:

The statistics for Jason Dufner in key categories: Greens in Regulation: 54 of 72, 75 percent, ranked third Fairways Hit: 34 of 56, 60.71 percent, tied for 18th Total Putts: 114, tied for 14th

NOW 15 OF 18 FROM LAST GROUP: Dufner's victory means that 15 of the last 18 PGA Champions have emerged from the final group in the final round. The exceptions: Padraig Harrington (2008); Martin Kaymer (2010) and Keegan Bradley (2011).

15 OF LAST 19 ARE FIRST-TIMERS: Dufner's win also means that 15 of the last 19 major championships have been won by a first-time major winner.

HEY, JASON, EVER BEEN TO BERMUDA?: Dufner is the fourth and final major champion of 2013 and earns a berth into the 31st PGA Grand Slam of Golf, the toughest event in golf to quality for. He is invited to participate, along with Masters Champion Adam Scott, U.S. Open Champion Justin Rose and Open Champion Phil Mickelson, Oct. 15-16, at Port Royal Golf Course in Bermuda.

AMERICAN DOUBLE, ONCE AGAIN: For the second consecutive year, golfers from the United States won back-to-back major championships. Dufner followed Phil Mickelson's stirring victory last month at the OpenChampionship. Last year, Bubba Watson (Masters) and Webb Simpson (U.S. Open) won consecutive majors.

U.S. golfers won two majors both this year and in 2012.

TRIPLE BOGEY ENDS MCILROY'S HOPES: Defending champion Rory McIlroy made an early birdie, at No. 3, but any hopes he had for a successful defense evaporated at the par-4 fifth hole. McIlroy hit his approach shot into the creek fronting the green, pitched his fourth shot over the green, and ultimately made triple-bogey 7 on the hole.

McIlroy did rally with three birdies and finished with a 70 today for a 3-under-par 277 total. He tied for eighth place.

TOMS BEST AMONG PAST PGA CHAMPIONS: David Toms, the 2001 PGA Champion, closed with 3-under-par 67 to finish at 4 under par for the Championship. That is the best finishing score of the seven PGA Champions who made the 36-hole cut. Defending champion Rory McIlroy was next.

The finishing totals of the other five PGA Champions in the field who made the 36-hole cut:

Keegan Bradley, 1-under par for the Championship, T-19 Martin Kaymer, 3-over par for the Championship, T-33 Tiger Woods, 4-over par for the Championship, T-40 Vijay Singh, 10-over par for the Championship, T-70 Phil Mickelson, 12-over par for the Championship, T-72

TIM CLARK, WHAT AN ACE!: Tim Clark of South Africa became the 39th player to make a hole-in-one in thePGA Championship since complete records began to be kept in 1970. Clark used a 3-hybrid on the 220-yard, par-3 11th hole, to record the first ace in a PGA Championship since Tom Lehman on the 17th hole in the third round of the 2010 PGA Championship at Whistling Straits.

It was Clark's 14th career hole-in-one. In the 2003 PGA Championship, Robert Allenby made a hole-in-one on the 11th in the opening round.

Clark, who was third in the 2003 PGA Championship at Oak Hill, tied for 68th, at 10 over par.

FIVE IN A ROW, TWICE!: Once was just not good enough for Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez. For the second time this week, Jimenez made five consecutive birdies - on holes 12 through 16. In the opening round, Jimenez birdied holes 2 through 6.

Jimenez shot 67 and finished at 2 over par for Championship.

BIGGEST JUMP SUNDAY: Jimenez and Matt Jones each leaped 23 spots to finish tied for 29th and tied for 40th, respectively.

LUCKY NUMBER 13 (TWICE) FOR KAYMER: Martin Kaymer eagled the par-5 13th hole twice this week - holing out from the fairway in the opening round and sinking a putt Sunday.

TOUGHEST, EASIEST HOLES FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP: The par-4 17th was the most difficult hole on the course in the 95th PGA Championship. The par-5 fourth hole was the easiest for the week.

TOUGHEST HOLES FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP:

No. 17, par-4: 4.415 scoring average, 176 bogeys, 17 double bogeys, 2 scores worse than double bogey, 25 birdies No. 18, par-4: 4.346 scoring average, 150 bogeys, 20 double bogeys, 1 score worse than double bogey, 34 birdies No. 7, par-4: 4.322 scoring average, 130 bogeys, 25 double bogeys, 1 score worse than double bogey, 35 birdies

EASIEST HOLES FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP:

No. 4, par-5: 4.783 scoring average, 4 eagles, 145 birdies, 46 bogeys, 5 double bogeys, 1 score worse than double bogey No. 13, par-5: 4.891 scoring average, 4 eagles, 115 birdies, 54 bogeys, 8 double bogeys, 1 score worse than double bogey No. 14, par-4: 3.893 scoring average, 1 eagle, 130 birdies, 60 bogeys, 7 double bogeys, 3 scores worse than double bogey

HORAK'S UNFORGETTABLE WEEKEND AT OAK HILL: It was 36 holes of pure bliss for PGA Club Professional Rob Horak, who strolled the fairways of Oak Hill Country Club over the past two days as a "marker" for PGA Tour Professionals Matt Jones and Gary Woodland.

And the 18 holes Horak played with Woodland during Sunday's final round was just as memorable as the round he walked with Jones on Saturday.

"I have been in this community for 30 years, and it was an honor to play in front of family and friends who I've developed relationships with through golf," said Horak. "It was a special experience."

Horak, a PGA teaching professional at Ravenwood Golf Club in Victor, N.Y., served this week as the liaison for the Western New York PGA Section, which had more than 100 of its Professionals volunteering at Oak Hill. A five-time Section Champion, Horak was also asked by the Section to play as a "marker."

Woodland closed with a 70, and in the process became the first player in competition to reach the green in two on the 598-yard par-5 hole. Woodland said he enjoyed his time with Horak.

"He was in a tough position today and he just wanted to make sure he wasn't in the way," said Woodland. "He played well today and we had a lot of fun."

Horak, 52, had always dreamed of playing in a major championship and until Saturday never had the chance. This week, however, he feels he accomplished that lifelong goal.

"I have tried to qualify for the U.S. Open and the PGA Championship and as I have gotten older, I got a little down on myself," he said. "To get this chance was truly a dream come true."

FREE DROP FOR KUCHAR EXPLAINED: During the final round, Matt Kuchar received a free drop under the Local Rule for an embedded ball through the green.

On the second hole, Kuchar played from a fairway bunker. The ball came out low and embedded in the ground near the top edge of the bunker. At this point, Kuchar called for a rules official. After careful examination, John Paramor judged the ball to be embedded in the grass-covered ground, bordering the bunker.

By definition, this grass-covered ground is not part of the bunker and relief under the Local Rule was available.

BEST FOR LAST: It's hard to believe, but this week marked just the third time that Keegan Bradley has competed in a PGA Championship.

As a rookie in 2011, Bradley shocked the golf world with a victory at Atlanta Athletic Club in a playoff overJason Dufner. In his title defense a year ago at Kiawah Island, Bradley finished in a tie for third.

On Sunday at Oak Hill, Bradley catapulted 19 spots up the leaderboard with a final-round, 4-under 66. That allowed him to finish in a tie for 19th at 1 under.

Six under through 13 holes, Bradley really had something special going, but he made bogeys on Nos. 14 and 18 coming in.

"I wanted to beat's Duf's course record for sure," said Bradley, alluding to good buddy Dufner's course-record 63 earlier in the week. "On 14, I didn't hit that bad of a drive and it hit the tree and kicked it 60 yards right. Could have just as easily kicked it left and been right in front of the green. But that's how it goes. I'm proud of the way I played today. I've played the British Open and PGA good on the weekends two in a row, so I'm happy."

A SPECIAL PAIRING: Unfortunately for Brooks Koepka, a 7-over 77 on Sunday turned out to be his worst score of the week at Oak Hill. The round, however, is one the 23-year-old will likely never forget.

Why, you ask?

Koepka was paired with Tiger Woods.

"It was fun," said Koepka, a Florida native, multiple winner on the European Challenge Tour and new member of the European Tour. "I had a good time. Tiger is a good dude. Obviously I didn't play the way I wanted to, got off to a little bit of a shaky start. A little bit of adrenaline going. The ball wasn't finding the distance as I thought it was, and I don't know what to say. I hung in there on the back and that was kind of the main goal on making the turn just to have a good back nine."

Woods enjoyed Koepka's company, too.

"Good kid," Woods said. "I mean, we were talking about it - he lives right down the road from where I live and he's thinking about becoming a member at Medalist. Come out there and play a few rounds. He earned his way. He won three times (on the Challenge Tour) and now he's on the European Tour. It's good to see. Good, old fashioned work pays off and he should be proud of it."

95th PGA CHAMPIONSHIP ... BY THE NUMBERS

8: Birdies made today by Scott Piercy, the most by any player in a single round this week 11: Eagles made in the 95th PGA Championship 21: Players finishing under par in the 95th PGA Championship 65: Low score of the final round, by Scott Piercy

Kohler named General Chair of '15 PGA Championship

 

PGA.COM August 21, 2013

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KOHLER, Wis. (Aug. 13, 2013) -- The appointment of David Kohler as General Chair of the 2015 PGA Championship was announced today by The PGA of America and Kohler Co.

The 2015 PGA Championship will be held for the third time on the Straits Course of Whistling Straits, Aug. 10-16, following memorable PGA Championships in both 2004 (won by Vijay Singh) and 2010 (won by Martin Kaymer).

David Kohler is President of Kohler Co. and on the Board of Directors of Kohler Co., the Green Bay Packers, Interface Inc., and Interceramic. Supporting David will be several thousand volunteers and a seasoned cadre of professionals including Vice Chairman Michael Belot, who recently served as the Tournament Director of the 2012 Ryder Cup at Medinah. Belot knows what it takes to set the stage for a dramatic golf experience, as the 2012 Ryder Cup was one of the most successful events in golf history.

Joining David and Michael will be PGA Professional Jim Richerson, Kohler Group Director of Golf and a member of the PGA of America Board of Directors.

"There is no more challenging and dramatic venue in Major Championship golf than Whistling Straits," said David Kohler, "and we are committed to executing an event of exceptional caliber. My father Herb Kohler, and Pete Dye, who together built the course, really could accept nothing less."

Fresh from the Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid, held in May at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis, Jason Mengel will serve as Championship Director for the 2015 PGA Championship. Mengel previously was the Operations Manager for both the 2008 and 2011 PGA Championship.

The PGA and Kohler Co., are focused on continuing to build on this successful Championship legacy with a renewed commitment to corporate and spectator experience during the event.

Demand is once again expected to be high for tickets, so fans are encouraged to pre-register now for 2015 PGA Championship tickets. For more information on pre-registration or volunteer opportunities, log onto www.pgachampionship.com.

For those who wish to sample the golf experience prior to the Championship, they can reserve a room in the Five-Star Five-Diamond American Club resort-hotel in Kohler, Wis., or the Three-Star Inn on Woodlake. Individuals can reserve tee times on one or more of the four courses at the world-renowned golf venues of Whistling Straits and Blackwolf Run, which have combined to host six Major Championships. All of the courses are ranked in the top 100 in the United States.

About Kohler Co. Kohler Co. also operates a sister property, the Old Course Hotel Golf Resort and Spa in the birthplace of golf, St Andrews, Scotland which is recognized as perhaps the most luxurious golf resorts in the world. The hotel stands astride the 17th hole of the Old Course looking out over the North Sea. To play the hole, a player must literally drive the ball over a wing of the hotel onto the fairway. Just beyond, immediately behind the 18th hole of the Old Course, Kohler Co. recently completed a renovation of an iconic building called Hamilton Grand with 26 of the world's most extraordinary apartments. For further information, please visit www.GolfKohler.com. Stay up to date on news and happenings on Facebook, www.facebook.com/KohlerGolf and on Twitter, www.twitter.com/theamericanclub.

About The PGA of America Since its founding in 1916, The PGA of America has maintained a twofold mission: to elevate the standards of professional golf and to grow participation in the game. Through world-class research and education, The PGA enables its Professionals to maximize their performance and showcase themselves as the experts in the game. By delivering world-class championships, The PGA of America elevates the public's interest and ensures accessibility. As The PGA nears its centennial, the PGA brand represents the very best in golf.

Golf-Amateurs Fitzpatrick and Ko win Mark McCormack medals

 

August 21, 2013

Aug 21 (Reuters) - England's Matthew Fitzpatrick and New Zealander Lydia Ko have won the Mark H. McCormack Medals as the leading men's and women's amateur players based on the 2013 World Amateur Golf Ranking.

 Fitzpatrick capped an outstanding season by winning the silver medal at the British Open as top amateur, then became the first Englishman to clinch the U.S. Amateur Championship in 102 years at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts on Sunday.

"I'm absolutely delighted to win the McCormack Medal," the baby-faced 18-year-old Fitzpatrick said in a statement. "For this to come along at the same time as winning the U.S. Amateur Championship is really special.

"I had a fair idea that if I had a good finish I might be able to scrape it but it was great that it went my way. It has been an amazing few weeks for me ever since the (British) Open and I am really happy to have achieved so much."

 Ko earned the McCormack Medal for a third successive year after another excellent season in which she competed in four of golf's major championships and several other events on the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour.

The 16-year-old's best finish in a professional tournament was a tie for third in the Australian Women's Open while she finished joint 17th in the Wegmans LPGA Championship and shared 25th place in the Kraft Nabisco Championship.

"It means a lot," said Ko, who last year at the age of 15 became the youngest winner on the LPGA Tour with a three-shot victory at the Canadian Women's Open. "And to have won the medal three years in a row makes it more special. It's awesome.

"I won the U.S. Amateur last year. I wanted to win that championship so much and to have won it, it was great. Without winning it, I may not have been able to maintain my position."

 The Mark H. McCormack Medals are named in honour of Mark McCormack, a pioneer and founder of the sports marketing industry who also created the world ranking system for professional golf. He died in 2003.

 His International Management Group is widely known as the world's largest representative of sportsmen and sportswomen. (Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Simon Evans)

Inside the Ropes: McDowell still seeking postseason success

Graeme McDowell joined the PGA Tour after winning the 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, making him eligible for the PGA Tour playoffs for the FedEx Cup. 

So far, his postseason forays have been an exercise in futility.

 "FedEx has been tough for me the last few years," said McDowell, who will try to turn things around this week in the Deutsche BankChampionship, the second event of the playoffs, after missing the cut in the Barclays. 

"I haven't really got into it, if you like. This is probably the first year I'm going in there with some certain numbers on the board. I'm guaranteed the first three (events).

 "I kind of know what I have to do to get into the Tour Championship and sort of set that as my goal at the start of the year, to get into the Tour Championship. I wanted to experience that a little bit." 

 McDowell shot 71-72--143 to miss the weekend by one stroke atthe Barclays, and he slipped 16 spots to 44th in the FedEx Cup standings. He needs high finishes in the Deutsche Bank and theBMW Championship to climb back into the top 30 and make the field for the Tour Championship. 

 Last year, he slid from 27th at the end of last regular season to 42nd after the BMW Championship and missed the Tour Championship by 12 spots on the FedEx Cup points list. 

In his three 2012 postseason events, he missed the cut in the Barclays, tied for 74th in the Deutsche Bank and tied for 34th in the BMW Championship.

 In 2011, even though he rose 20 spots to 73rd by tying for 43rd in the Barclays and tying for 37th in the Deutsche Bank, he missed the BMW by three positions in the point standings. 

 "It's so volatile," said McDowell, who is in much better position in the Race to Dubai on the European Tour, trailing only Henrik Stenson. "It's a very, very different format from what we're used to in regular golf throughout history. 

"The best player wins the money list, wins the best player of the year.

The FedEx playoffs, you can go in having a phenomenal season ... Padraig Harrington wins two major championships (in 2008) and doesn't get into the Tour Championship. 

"So that just about sums up how volatile the FedEx has been. It is what it is. You have just got to go in there and play aggressive and try to put some numbers up."

Even though McDowell has claimed three victories this season, the second time since 2010 he has accomplished that, it's been a strange year.

McDowell captured the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town in a playoff over Webb Simpson, beat Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand in the final of the Volvo World Match Play Championship in Bulgaria and won the Alstom Open de France by four strokes over Richard Sterne of South Africa.

 However, he also has missed the cut in six notable tournaments -- the Masters, the U.S. Open, the Players Championship, the BMW PGA Championship, the Barclays and the Irish Open, his national championship. 

"They say winning is a habit," said the 34-year-old McDowell, something of a late bloomer who has claimed eight of his 12 professional victories since 2010. "It's a contagious habit. It's certainly a habit we like to get into.

"You can say my season this year has not really been that way. I haven't fed off my victories maybe the way I needed to the last few months. Obviously I've won three times ... but missed (some) cuts.

 "I think my season has not felt as inconsistent as perhaps it's read. Those missed cuts, if you look at them, I missed by one at Augusta, missed by a couple at Players, missed by one at the Irish, missed by a couple at Wentworth (in the BMW), missed by a couple hundred at the U.S. Open. 

"It hasn't really been as bad as it's read."

 McDowell has a busy schedule coming up, as he will get married the week after the Tour championship to Kristin Stape, an interior designer he met when he hired her to furnish the house he bought in Lake Nona, Fla. 

Following the honeymoon, he will jump back into the Race to Dubai.

 "I'm actually getting married during the week of the Dunhill Links Championship (at St. Andrews)," said McDowell, who has been one of golf's most eligible bachelors. "Making a sacrifice there, but it's for the right reasons. You only get married once in your life, hopefully. 

"It's obviously come off the back of a very busy summer of golf. ... But I'm taking four weeks off just to enjoy, get married and honeymoon and do all that good stuff.

"Then I'll be back for the Race to Dubai series and the end of the season on the European Tour."

For now, he's looking for a payoff in the PGA Tour playoffs.