Thompson Tees Off - Subscriber

Thompson teesoff "Alabama's Golf Insider" teesoff Thompson teesoff 11.19.15 In recognition of the milestone of recently reaching my 150th issue, I'm pleased to offer a special "Lifetime" subscription offer of $100 for 10 years of issues! That's right, this special offer is available now and will mean you won't have to pay $30 annually, but rather a one-time payment of $100 for up to 10 years of issues. This option is available when you click the Subscribe Now! button. Click our Icon to Subscribe! It would be polite to describe 2015 as a down year for Graeme McDowell. The likable Irishman, who starred at UAB for three years, had fallen to No. 85 in the O cial World Golf Rankings and was beginning to wonder if he would win again. He set that straight on Monday with a playo win over Russell Knox and Jason Bohn in the rain- delayed OHL Classic at Mayakoba in Playa del Car- men, Mexico. This native of Portrush, Northern Ireland now has three PGA Tour wins, with the highlight his 2010 U.S. Open triumph at iconic Pebble Beach, plus 10 European Tour victories. For years he has resided in the top 20 in the world, but slipped this year, a year when he has admitted he took his eye o the ball. More on that later… He was a superstar at UAB, earning the Haskins Award in 2002 as the national college Player of the Year. A truly down-to-earth person, he has never forgotten where he came from. He lives in Orlando, Fla., and has done so for a number of years, but still looks upon Birmingham with great fondness. He attended UAB for three years, winning a school-record nine times and racking up 24 top tens. And he now supports and lends his name to the Shoal Creek Invitational hosted by Graeme McDow- ell, which was won by his alma mater this fall. Playing in Mexico instead of the Race to Dubai on the European Tour proved to be a masterful decision by McDowell. And this proven closer, in events and Ryder Cups, hit a gem of a 5-iron to within three feet to seal the deal on the rst playo hole. "I hit as good of a 5-iron as I could hit," McDowell told pgatour.com. He moved into contention after a second round 63 took him to 12-under-par as he sat atop the lead- erboard. He then closed with a 5-under 66 to nish at 18-under-par 266, but it looked as if it would only be good enough for second place as Knox had a one-shot lead going to the 18th hole at El Camaleon Golf Club. However, Knox made a closing bogey to drop into a tie with McDowell and Bohn, which McDowell nished in a hurry on the tough 18th hole. "You go through a year like this, you think, `Am Graeme McDowell captures the PGA Tour's OHL Classic at Mayakoba OHL Classic at Mayakoba winner and former UAB Blazer Graeme McDowell.

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