GRAEME MCDOWELL DOESN’T seem to know when he is beaten this week.
For the third time in as many rounds at the WGC-Accenture Match Play, McDowell found himself on the brink with two holes to play.
Again he found a way to win.
This time it was Hunter Mahan left reeling by his late charge. Standing on the 17th tee, Mahan was two up but a par-birdie finish by McDowell was enough to force the match to extra holes.
The Portrush man then salvaged a miraculous par on the second playoff hole before stitching his approach on the next and rolling in the decisive birdie.
Afterwards he admitted: “I’ve just robbed three players at this tournament and I can’t believe I’m still in it.”
McDowell’s Houdini-esque escapes started on Wednesday when he won the final three holes, and the first playoff, to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat against Gary Woodland.
The 17th and 18th were happy hunting grounds again on Thursday when he turned a one-hole deficit into a win against Hideki Matsuyama.
“It’s entertaining for sure but I’d much rather have it much easier, believe me,” he said tonight.
“I’m just off the phone with my wife and she can scarcely believe it.
“I can’t get my head around it.
I was pretty sure I was beaten against Gary Woodland. Yesterday I thought I had a chance.Today, walking off the 16th green, I thought I was beaten again, especially after my tee shot on 17. When you’re playing a quality player like Hunter Mahan, you’re not really expecting to be coming back from two holes down with two to play.The par save on the second playoff hole was just ridiculous, that’s all I can say about it.
McDowell will now play Victor Dubuisson in tomorrow’s quarter-finals. The Frenchman held his nerve to par the final hole and beat Bubba Watson 1 up.
The other quarter-finals see Jim Furyk face Rickie Fowler, Jason Day play Louis Oosthuizen and Ernie Els against Jordan Spieth.
